Bibliographic Information

The organic chemistry of museum objects

John S. Mills and Raymond White

(Butterworth-Heinemann series in conservation and museology)

Butterworth-Heinemann, 1994

2nd ed

Available at  / 4 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This is a survey of the chemical composition, properties and analysis of the whole range of organic materials incorporated into objects and artworks found in museum collections. The authors cover the fundamental chemistry of the bulk materials such as wood, paper, natural fibres and skin products, as well as that of the relatively minor components incorporated as paint, media, varnishes, adhesives and dyes. This edition follows the structure of the first, though it has been extensively updated. In addition to chapters on basic organic chemistry, analytical methods, analytical findings and fundamental aspects of deterioration, the subject matter is grouped as far as possible by broad chemical class - oils and fats, waxes, bitumens, carbohydrates, proteins, natural resins, dyestuffs and synthetic polymers. Since the first edition, significant advances have been made in some fields - the red insect dyestuffs, synthetic varnish resins, and the use of antioxidants, for example - and are given more extended discussion, while some other topics, such as the synthetic resin parylene, are newly introduced. The book will serve the needs of restorers and conservators, museum scientists, students of conservation and curators as well as organic chemists faced with the challenging task of analysing small samples of complex and degraded natural products.

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • Basic organic chemistry
  • Analytic methods
  • oils and fats
  • Natural waxes
  • Bituminous materials
  • Carbohydrates: sugars and polysaccharides
  • Proteins
  • Natural resins and lacquers
  • Synthetic materials
  • Dyestuffs and other coloured materials
  • Deterioration: causes and prevention
  • Analysis in practice.

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