Stewing in Its Own Juices? The Permeability of PET by Water and Acetic Acid
-
Molly K. McGath
Molly McGath , PhD is an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral research fellow within the Heritage Science for Conservation Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a materials science and engineering doctoral degree and an organic chemistry masters degree from the University of Arizona. Her scientific interests include the chemistry of polymeric materials like cellulose which are found in archives, libraries and museums, as well as monitoring and evaluating the effects of chemicals within an object’s environment.Andrea Hall is Senior Research Specialist at Heritage Science for Conservation in the Department of Conservation and Preservation at Johns Hopkins University where she is working on physical property testing of heritage materials, environmental monitoring, studying conservation testing and treatment methods, and material deterioration. Hall has a background as a conservation specialist and a materials scientist. She received her Masters of Science in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2016. Hall obtained her Bachelor of Science in biology at Bowling Green State University, and studied the conservation of art and artifacts at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy.Sara Zaccaron , PhD is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry of Renewable Resources at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna. She was formerly an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral research fellow at the Heritage Science for Conservation, Johns Hopkins University. Zaccaron got her PhD in chemistry and the master degree in conservation science from Ca’ Foscari University, Venice (Italy). Her research interests deal with a broad variety of topics related to natural polymers, from pulp and paper industry to cultural heritage, with a particular focus on analytics, mechanisms and kinetics of material degradation.Jay Wallace holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. His day job involves fracture mechanics and stress corrosion cracking of ceramic and metallic materials.William “Bill” Minter is currently senior book conservator for The Pennsylvania State University Libraries. Previously, he worked with the post-doctoral fellows and researchers in the Heritage Science for Conservation project at Johns Hopkins University. And during this time, he has maintained a private-practice book conservation business in Woodbury, Pennsylvania. Bill has always been interested in the science of book conservation.Patricia McGuiggan obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. During her Ph.D., she was a research scholar in the Applied Mathematics Department at the Australian National University. She spent 3 years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara with Professor Jacob Israelachvili. She has worked at 3 M, W.L. Gore & Associates, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She is currently an associate research professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and is P.I. of the Heritage Science for Conservation Program in the Department of Conservation and Preservation at JHU. Her research focuses on the measurement of material properties at the nanoscale.
Abstract
Historic documents are frequently protected by placing them in a sealed polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) envelope. Although the paper is mechanically stabilized, the PET film may limit transmission of moisture or acidic degradation by-products of the paper. This creates a microenvironment for the encapsulated document. The permeation of water and acetic acid vapor through the PET film was measured to understand the microenvironment within an encapsulated enclosure. For encapsulation with a 102 μm (4 mil) PET film, the water vapor mass flux through the encapsulated film was measured. The water vapor was found to flow into or out of the PET film depending on the sample and environmental conditions. Because the encapsulated paper needed a longer time to dry than paper in open air, PET encapsulation provides a microenvironment that will buffer the encapsulated object from large swings in humidity. Acetic acid either did not diffuse through the PET, or it diffused at such a slow rate as to not be measured, due to the larger size of the acetic acid molecule than the water molecule. Keeping one edge of an encapsulation open allowed a drying rate that was four times faster than when all four sides were sealed. Because acetic acid vapor does not readily diffuse through the PET, these results reinforce the recommendations for deacidification and/or addition of buffering agents to the paper or enclosure. The results of this study point to a critical need for the investigation of new materials in conjunction with further evaluation of currently used materials.
Zusammenfassung
Im eigenen Saft schmoren? Die Permeabilität von PET Folien für Wasser und Essigsäure.
Historische Dokumente werden oft geschützt, indem sie in Umschlägen aus verschweißten Polyethylenterephthalat Folien (PET) aufbewahrt werden. In dieser Studie wurde die Permeation von Wasser- und Essigsäuredämpfen durch diese Folien gemessen, um die Umgebungsbedingungen der so aufbewahrten Dokumente besser zu verstehen. Für eine 102 µm PET Folie betrug der Massenstrom von Wasserdampf durch den Film 1,4 x 10-9 g Dampfverlust/cm2/s. Der Wasserdampf strömte dabei – je nach Probematerial und Umweltbedingungen – sowohl in die PET Folie hinein als auch aus der PET Folie heraus. Da Papier, das in einem Folienumschlag aufbewahrt wird, längere Trocknungszeiten aufweist als Papier, das an der Luft getrocknet wird, kann ein Umschlag aus PET Folie ein Mikroklima herstellen, das Objekte vor stärkeren Klimaschwankungen schützt. Essigsäure diffundierte aufgrund der größeren Essigsäure-Moleküle entweder nicht oder nur so langsam durch PET Folie, dass die Diffusion nicht messbar war. Wenn eine Seite des Folienumschlages nicht verschweißt wird, ist die Trocknungsrate viermal so schnell wie bei an allen Seiten versiegelten Umschlägen.
Résumé
Mariner dans son jus? La perméabilité du polyéthylène téréphtalate (PET) à l’eau et à l’acide acétique
Les documents historiques sont souvent protégés en étant encapsulés dans une enveloppe en PET. L’infiltration à la vapeur d’eau et d’acide acétique à travers le film de PET a été mesurée pour comprendre le micro-environnement d’un matériau encapsulé. Si pour l’encapsulation, on utilise un film de PET de 102 µm, le flux maximum de vapeur d’eau mesuré à travers le film est de 1,4 x 10-9 g d’évaporation/cm2/s. La vapeur d’eau rentre et sort du film de PET à un rythme qui dépend de l’échantillon et des conditions environnementales. Comme le papier encapsulé a besoin de plus de temps pour sécher que le papier à l’air libre, l’encapsulation dans un film de PET engendre un micro-environnement qui tamponne et protège l’objet encapsulé face à des variations d’humidité. L’acide acétique quant à lui ne s’est pas diffusé à travers le PET ou à un taux si faible, qu’il ne peut pas être mesuré car la molécule d’acide acétique est plus grande que celle de l’eau. En laissant un côté de l’encapsulation ouverte, le taux de séchage a été quatre fois plus rapide que lorsque tous les côtés ont été scellés.
Funding statement: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, (Grant/Award Number: ‘Heritage Science for Conservation’)
About the authors
Molly McGath, PhD is an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral research fellow within the Heritage Science for Conservation Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a materials science and engineering doctoral degree and an organic chemistry masters degree from the University of Arizona. Her scientific interests include the chemistry of polymeric materials like cellulose which are found in archives, libraries and museums, as well as monitoring and evaluating the effects of chemicals within an object’s environment.
Andrea Hall is Senior Research Specialist at Heritage Science for Conservation in the Department of Conservation and Preservation at Johns Hopkins University where she is working on physical property testing of heritage materials, environmental monitoring, studying conservation testing and treatment methods, and material deterioration. Hall has a background as a conservation specialist and a materials scientist. She received her Masters of Science in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2016. Hall obtained her Bachelor of Science in biology at Bowling Green State University, and studied the conservation of art and artifacts at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy.
Sara Zaccaron, PhD is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry of Renewable Resources at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna. She was formerly an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral research fellow at the Heritage Science for Conservation, Johns Hopkins University. Zaccaron got her PhD in chemistry and the master degree in conservation science from Ca’ Foscari University, Venice (Italy). Her research interests deal with a broad variety of topics related to natural polymers, from pulp and paper industry to cultural heritage, with a particular focus on analytics, mechanisms and kinetics of material degradation.
Jay Wallace holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. His day job involves fracture mechanics and stress corrosion cracking of ceramic and metallic materials.
William “Bill” Minter is currently senior book conservator for The Pennsylvania State University Libraries. Previously, he worked with the post-doctoral fellows and researchers in the Heritage Science for Conservation project at Johns Hopkins University. And during this time, he has maintained a private-practice book conservation business in Woodbury, Pennsylvania. Bill has always been interested in the science of book conservation.
Patricia McGuiggan obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. During her Ph.D., she was a research scholar in the Applied Mathematics Department at the Australian National University. She spent 3 years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara with Professor Jacob Israelachvili. She has worked at 3 M, W.L. Gore & Associates, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She is currently an associate research professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and is P.I. of the Heritage Science for Conservation Program in the Department of Conservation and Preservation at JHU. Her research focuses on the measurement of material properties at the nanoscale.
Acknowledgements
We thank Don McClure for discussions of PET and Lena Warren for showing us how to use the encapsulator. We also thank the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for funding this research.
References
ASTM: D1653-13 Standard test methods for water vapor transmission of materials. ASTM (2008): 1–5.Search in Google Scholar
Atkins, P., Jones, L.: Chemical Principles, the Quest for Insight, 4th, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 2008.Search in Google Scholar
Balloffet, N., Hille, J.: Preservation and Conservation for Libraries and Archives, Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.Search in Google Scholar
Banik, G., Brückle, I.: Paper and Water: A Guide for Conservators, New York: Routledge, 2011.Search in Google Scholar
Banik, G., Brückle, I.: Principles of water absorption and desorption in cellulosic materials. Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material 31(3–4) (2010): 164–177.10.1515/rest.2010.012Search in Google Scholar
Barrow, W. J.: The Barrow method of Laminating documents. The Journal of Documentary Reproduction 2 (1939): 147–151.Search in Google Scholar
Bowen, T. C., Noble, R. D., Falconer, J. L.: Fundamentals and applications of pervaporation through zeolite membranes. Journal of Membrane Science 245(1–2) (2004): 1–33.10.1016/j.memsci.2004.06.059Search in Google Scholar
Brandrup, J., Immergut, E. H., Grulke, E. A.: Permeability of Gases in Polymers. In: Polymer handbook. 4th ed. New York: Wiley, 1999: VI/556.Search in Google Scholar
Clark, C.: The status of research and techniques in archival conservation. The Midwestern Archivist 3(1) (1978): 13–24.Search in Google Scholar
Cocca, M., D’Arienzo, L., D’Orazio, L.: Effects of different artificial agings on structure and properties of whatman paper samples. ISRN Materials Science 2011 (2011): 1–7.10.5402/2011/863083Search in Google Scholar
Consolati, G., Quasso, F.: An experimental study of the occupied volume in polyethylene terephthalate. The Journal of Chemical Physics 114(6) (2001): 2825–2829.10.1063/1.1338980Search in Google Scholar
Cutter, C.: The restoration of paper documents and manuscripts. College and Research Libraries 28(6) (1967): 387–397.10.5860/crl_28_06_387Search in Google Scholar
Darlington, I.: The lamination of paper documents. Journal of the Society of Archivists 1(4) (1955): 108–110.10.1080/00379815509513626Search in Google Scholar
Demirel, B., Yaraș, A., Elçiçek, H.: Crystallization behavior of PET materials. Balikesir Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi Cilt 13(1) (2011): 26–35.Search in Google Scholar
Dupont, A. L., Tetreault, J.: Cellulose degradation in an acetic acid environment. Studies in Conservation 45(3) (2000): 201–210.10.1179/sic.2000.45.3.201Search in Google Scholar
Dupont Corporation, 2017. Mylar polyester film. Available at: http://usa.dupontteijinfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mylar_Chemical_Properties.pdf [Accessed November 4, 2017].Search in Google Scholar
Dwan, A.: Paper complexity and the interpretation of conservation research. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 26(1) (1987): 1–17.10.2307/3179657Search in Google Scholar
Elabd, Y. A., Barbari, T. A.: Acetic acid diffusion in polyisobutylene: probing small molecule structures. Industrial Engineering Chemical Researcher 40 (2001): 3076–3084.10.1021/ie000518bSearch in Google Scholar
Garside, P., Walker, O.: The formation of microenvironments in polyester enclosures. Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies 13(1) (2015): 1–4.10.5334/jcms.1021223Search in Google Scholar
Goel, O. P.: Repair of documents with cellulose acetate foils on small scale. Indian Archives 7 (1953): 162–165.Search in Google Scholar
Graminski, E. L., Parks, E. J., Toth, E. E.: The effects of temperature and moisture on the accelerated aging of paper. Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material 2 (1978): 175–178.10.6028/NBS.IR.78-1443Search in Google Scholar
Hua-Strofer, E.: Experimental measurement: Interpreting extrapolation and prediction by accelerated aging. Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material 11(4) (1990): 254–266.10.1515/rest.1990.11.4.254Search in Google Scholar
Hubbell, W. H., Brandt, H., Munir, Z. A.: Transient and steady-state water vapor permeation through polymer films. Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Edition 13(3) (1975): 493–507.10.1002/pol.1975.180130304Search in Google Scholar
Jablonský, M., Botková, M.: Accelerated ageing of wood-containing papers: formation of weak acids and deterioration of tensile strength. Wood Research 57(3) (2012): 419–434.Search in Google Scholar
Library of Congress Preservation Office: The Physical Protection of Brittle and Deteriorating Documents by Polyester Encasement, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Preservation Office, 1975.Search in Google Scholar
Library of Congress Preservation Office: Polyester Film Encapsulation, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Preservation Office, 1980.Search in Google Scholar
Library of Congress Preservation Office, 2009. Specifications for polyester: poly(ethyleneterephthalate) film for the storage of artifacts. Library of Congress Preservation Directorate Specification Number 500-500 – 16, pp. 1–2.Search in Google Scholar
Łojewska, J., Miskowiec, P., Łojewski, T., Proniewicz, L.M.: Cellulose oxidative and hydrolytic degradation: In situ FTIR approach. Polymer Degradation and Stability 88(3) (2005): 512–520.10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2004.12.012Search in Google Scholar
Mangaraj, S., Goswami, T. K., Mahajan, P. V.: Applications of plastic films for modified atmosphere packaging of fruits and vegetables: A review. Food Engineering Reviews 1(2) (2009): 133–158.10.1007/s12393-009-9007-3Search in Google Scholar
Marwick, C. S.: An Historical Study of Paper Document Restoration Methods, Washington, D.C.: The American University, 1964.Search in Google Scholar
McClure, D. J.: Polyester (PET) Film as a Substrate: A Tutorial. Aimcal 3 (2004): 1–13.Search in Google Scholar
McGath, M., Jordan-Mowery, S., Pollei, M., Heslip, S., Baty, J.: Cellulose Acetate Lamination: A literature review and survey of paper-based collections in the united states. Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material 36(4) (2015): 333–365.10.1515/res-2015-0015Search in Google Scholar
Michaels, A. S., Vieth, W. R., Barrie, J. A.: Diffusion of gases in polyethylene terephthalate. Journal of Applied Physics 34(1) (1963): 13–20.10.1063/1.1729054Search in Google Scholar
Minter, W.: Polyester encapsulation using ultrasonic welding. Library Hi Tech 1(3) (1983): 53–54.10.1108/eb047513Search in Google Scholar
Minter, W.; Baty, J.: The Role of Polyester Film Encapsulation–With and Without Prior Deacidification–On Paper Degradation, Studied Using Long- Term, Low- Temperature Aging. American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, 41st Annual Meeting. 29 May–1 June 2013, Indianapolis, IN. Research and Technical Studies Postprints, 4, 186–239, 2013.Search in Google Scholar
Ormsby, M.: Analysis of laminated documents using solid-phase microextraction. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 44(1) (2005): 13–26.10.1179/019713605806082400Search in Google Scholar
Phillips, C. A.: Review: Modified atmosphere packaging and its effects on the microbiological quality and safety of produce. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 31(6) (1996): 463–479.10.1046/j.1365-2621.1996.00369.xSearch in Google Scholar
Plastics Europe, 2017. General chemical resistance of PET-products. Association of plastics manufacturers. Available at: http://www.plasticseurope.org/Documents/Document/20100705182216-050303GeneralChemicalResistanceofPET-20050303-003-EN-v1.pdf [Accessed January 1, 2017].Search in Google Scholar
Poole, F. G.: Current lamination policies of the library of congress. The American Archivist 39(2) (1976a): 157–159.10.17723/aarc.39.2.vg627658l7421233Search in Google Scholar
Poole, F. G.: The physical protection of brittle and deteriorating documents. Library Scene 5, June (1976b): 9–11.Search in Google Scholar
Prajapati, C. L.: Conservation of Documents: Problems and Solutions - Policy Perspectives, New Delhi: Mittal Publications, 2005.Search in Google Scholar
Preservation Office Research Services: Polyester Film Encapsulation, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress Preservation Office, 1980.Search in Google Scholar
Richter, G. A., Wells, F. L.: Influence of moisture in accelerated aging of cellulose. Tappi 39(8) (1956): 603–608.Search in Google Scholar
Sauer, B.B., Kampert, W.G., McLean, R.S., Carcia, P.F.: TMDSC and atomic force microscopy studies of morphology and recrystallization in polyesters including oriented films. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 59(1–2) (2000): 227–243.10.1023/A:1010148331705Search in Google Scholar
Scribner, B. W.: Preservation of newspaper records. National Bureau of Standards Miscellaneous Publication 145 (1934): 1–10.10.6028/NBS.MP.145Search in Google Scholar
Scribner, B. W.: Protection of Documents with Cellulose Acetate Sheeting, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1940.Search in Google Scholar
Shahani, C.: Accelerated aging of paper: Can it really foretell the permanence of paper. Preservation Research and Testing Series 9503 (1995): 1–18.Search in Google Scholar
Shahani, C. J.: Options in polyester encapsulation. ACA Bulletin 11(1) (1986): 20.Search in Google Scholar
Shahani, C. J., Harrison, G.: Spontaneous formation of acids in the natural aging of paper. Studies in Conservation 47(sup3) (2002): 189–192.10.1179/sic.2002.47.s3.039Search in Google Scholar
Shahani, C. J., Wilson, W. K.: Preservation of libraries and archives. American Scientist 75(3) (1987): 240–251.Search in Google Scholar
Sichina, W. J.: DSC as Problem Solving Tool: Measurement of Percent Crystallinity of Thermoplastics, Norwalk, CT: Perkin Elmer, Inc., 2000. Available at www.perkinelmer.com.Search in Google Scholar
Siracusa, V.: Food packaging permeability behaviour: A report. International Journal of Polymer Science 2012(i) (2012): 1–11.10.1155/2012/302029Search in Google Scholar
Slavin, J., Hanlan, J. I. M.: An investigation of some environmental factors affecting migration-induced degradation in paper. Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material 13 (1992): 78–94.10.1515/rest.1992.13.2.78Search in Google Scholar
Sugarman, J. E., Vitale, T. J.: Observations on the drying of paper : Five drying methods and the drying process. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 31(2) (2017): 175–197.10.1179/019713692806066682Search in Google Scholar
TAPPI, 2017. TAPPI. Available at: https://www.tappi.org/[Accessed January 1, 2017].Search in Google Scholar
United States Plastic Corporation, 2017. Chemical resistance for general purpose polyester film (Mylar). Available at: http://www.usplastic.com/knowledgebase/article.aspx?contentkey=569 [Accessed January 1, 2017].Search in Google Scholar
Weast, R. C. (ed.): CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 58th, West Palm Beach: CRC PRess, Inc, 1978.Search in Google Scholar
Werner, A. E.: The Lamination of Documents. Journal of Documentation 20(1) (1964): 25–31.10.1108/eb026339Search in Google Scholar
Zervos, S., Alexopoulou, I.: Paper conservation methods: A literature review. Cellulose 22(5) (2015): 2859–2897.10.1007/s10570-015-0699-7Search in Google Scholar
Zihrul, N.: Support linings : A comparative assessment of materials and methods for text and image clarity. In: 2010 AICCM Book, Paper and Photographic Materials Symposium, 2010: 83–87. Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material Incorporated, 2010.Search in Google Scholar
Zou, X., Uesaka, T., Gurnagul, N.: Prediction of paper permanence by accelerated aging II. comparison of the predictions with natural aging results. Cellulose 3(1) (1996): 269–279.10.1007/BF02228806Search in Google Scholar
© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Analysis of Deterioration Phenomena in a Koran by Nineteenth Century Ottoman Calligrapher Mehmed Şevki
- Stewing in Its Own Juices? The Permeability of PET by Water and Acetic Acid
- Four Step Strategy for Implementing IPM in Libraries in Sri Lanka
- Erratum
- Erratum to: Evaluation of Alkaline Compounds Used for Deacidification and Simultaneous Lining of Extremely Degraded Manuscripts
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Analysis of Deterioration Phenomena in a Koran by Nineteenth Century Ottoman Calligrapher Mehmed Şevki
- Stewing in Its Own Juices? The Permeability of PET by Water and Acetic Acid
- Four Step Strategy for Implementing IPM in Libraries in Sri Lanka
- Erratum
- Erratum to: Evaluation of Alkaline Compounds Used for Deacidification and Simultaneous Lining of Extremely Degraded Manuscripts
