PROJECT PLASTICS

IDENTIFICATION OF PLASTICS OUTSIDE THE LAB

Each collection of contemporary art and design objects contains numerous artefacts made of plastic. To identify the material composition of these objects, specialist knowledge is required. The Project Plastics is an answer to the request for help of Dutch museums in setting up surveys of plastic collections.

The project brings together conservation scientists, conservators and ten major art collections. A do-it-yourself method is developed to enable staff members to identify a large part of their plastics themselves, to monitor them and take appropriate measures for preventive conservation. This method consists of the digital Plastic Identification Tool (PIT) and a kit with reference materials and tests (PIT-kit).

During the project a representative part of the plastics in the collections has been identified and registered. Staff members have learned to identify plastics ‘on the job’. By developing preventive measures in collaboration, plastic collections can be maintained in a proper way and knowledge will be secured within the organizations.

WEBSITE

Dutch: https://plastic-en.tool.cultureelerfgoed.nl/

English: https://plastic.tool.cultureelerfgoed.nl/

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