An Indispensable New Reference on Plastics for Conservation Professionals
This accessible volume is destined to become a trusted resource in the field
Properties of Plastics
A Guide for ConservatorsAuthor
Thea B. van Oosten
Body Content
Plastics have become one of the most ubiquitous materials in manufacturing and design.
Given the ease of mass-producing the material, plastic objects can be found in virtually every museum around the world. Research initiatives and knowledge concerning the conservation of plastics have rapidly increased over the last 25 years, creating a need for a thorough and comprehensive resource.
Properties of Plastics: A Guide for Conservators (Getty Conservation Institute, $70) is an accessible volume that offers conservators and students the most essential information for understanding each of the main classes of plastics. In addition to the main chapters, Properties of Plastics contains 56 illustrated “fact sheets” which summarize the properties of plastics most commonly found in cultural heritage collections. Aimed at the hands-on museum practitioner, this book will assist professionals in understanding the aging and deterioration of plastic objects and help guide conservation strategies.
Endorsements
“The conservation of plastic objects is a new challenge for cultural heritage. This book, written by a recognized expert in the field, provides conservation students and conservators with the solid and comprehensive foundation needed to best care for our modern and contemporary heritage—a must-read text- and reference book!”
— Bertrand Lavédrine, coordinator of the POPART project, Centre de Recherche sur la conservation, Paris
“Thea van Oosten’s book “Properties of Plastics: A Guide for Conservators” is a book that all have been longing and waiting for in the field of modern and contemporary conservation. Finally, a publication is designed and written for conservators that makes the field of plastics more accessible. I feel this will become a valuable tool for conservation studios around the world. The last chapter of the book and the fact sheets are my favorite parts of the book. These individual snapshots of the most important and comprehensive plastics and elastomers will be incredibly useful and helpful to anyone interested in our field of conservation looking to have information at their fingertips. Every conservation school, laboratory, or studio should have a copy of this important and significant publication on plastics.”
— Roger Griffith, Conservator/Owner of Two Sticks Inc.: Modern and Contemporary Conservation
Properties of Plastics
A Guide for Conservators$70/£55
