There are many kinds of plastics and variables that impact their condition. More than most materials, plastics suffer from “inherent vice,” or built-in problems that are a natural result of their own chemistry or structure.
This plastic has cracked, possibly due to aging and loss of plasticizer over time, but possibly though a damage event. These wide curvilinear cracks radiate out in three directions from near a hole.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 2005-35-1
There are several different plastics used in the manufacture of this hard hat. The inner black headband has a sticky, tacky surface that is likely the result of the plastic deteriorating and perhaps the plasticizers oozing out.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 2015-23-3
The wheels of this toy car show crazing and shrinking typical of very degraded rubber.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection III-O-601
This fishing lure held on an exhibit mount has two large plastic components, perhaps made from old toothbrush handles. The upper section was once red, but has lost some of its color and has a deep cracking and degradation throughout. This might also be due to loss of plasticizer and shrinking of the plastic.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection II-A-6822
The faux leather headband in this hat suffers from crumbly surface loss along the edges, possibly associated with use-related wear, and the situation is not helped by the dirt accretions.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 2009-19-3
Here is a chair with faux-leather upholstery that has gotten a bit brittle and has cracked. The surface has an overall pattern of crazing, or fine cracks. The front seam of the seat cushion has also split open.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 95-10-10
This old rubber water bottle from a shipwreck has become permanently distorted into this shape. It is stiff, but not brittle. It probably suffers from loss of plasticizer.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 2015-6-141
This hard hat has a brim made of a plastic that is like hard rubber. There are many cracks and it is very brittle and delicate. In this photo it sits on a black exhibit mount to give the delicate areas support.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection III-O-684
This vanity kit is made of “Amber-tone,” a kind of cellulose nitrate plastic known to give off acidic pollutants as it degrades. All the items in the box were trapped with these pollutants for an extended period of time, including the ring with zinc corrosion in the metals section.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum conservation research collection
Clear plastics and adhesives tend to yellow over time. This inlaid plastic feature of a marble sculpture has disfiguring yellowing from the aging of the adhesive used.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 2000-6-1
These rubberized rain pants have tears in the crotch, but they also have white spotty mold in localized areas on the surface.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 95-11-29
This contemporary art piece has colored plastic elements riveted to the surface. This piece became detached. Attachment points of plastics are an area of vulnerability, whether they are adhesive joins or mechanical ones.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection 2005-29-1
Models of ships and planes are another kind of artifact that often incorporate plastic pieces. This one has a broken section on the small protruding upper deck.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection III-O-983
Museum staff always cringe at tape, but sometimes it is a part of the history of an object we are reluctant to remove. This label, while not likely original, is very old and contains valuable information that seems authentic. The carrier on this tape is already yellowed, brittle, and beginning to detach.
Photo credit: Alaska State Museum collection III-O-525
