Chemical and physical characterization of the degradation of vulcanized natural rubber in the museum environment

Vulcanized natural rubber was chemically characterized using three Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques: attenuated total reflectance-microscopy-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoacoustic-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Two thermal analysis techniques were also used: thermogravimetry and thermogravimetry-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Physical characterization of vulcanized natural rubber was done using scanning electron microscopy as well as mechanical testing. The chemical and physical data were correlated to determine if any consistencies between changes in physical and chemical properties were present.;It was found that the physical changes occurring in the artificially aged samples closely resembled the changes found in many museum artifacts. These physical changes included: cracking, hardening and embrittlement as well as softening of the material. Chemical analysis indicates that oxidative degradation of the material has occurred due to accelerated aging of the samples; however, there was no specific structural change occurring in the material that was found to be linked to a specific physical sign of degradation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).