Here's a very simple accelerated aging test for plastics.
*Take an empty pickle jar and cap (mayo is harder to clean) and wash it
thoroughly with very hot water and rinse three times in very hot water. I
tend to use dishwashing detergent. Air dry- a cloth might contaminate it.
*Cut up some of the questioned plastic, place it in the jar, seal the jar,
and place it in a window where it will get some direct sunlight. Both heat
and sunlight accelerate aging.
*After about 5 days, take a close look at the jar. If a film has formed
inside, the plastic is unsuitable. In most new cars, a film forms on the
insides of the windows, because the plastics are off-gassing. Same thing
with the jar. If you can't see a film, open the jar and take a good smell.
If it smells like the inside of a new cheap car, the plastic is unsuitable.
In either case, you don't know what is volatizing out of the plastic, but
just knowing that something is off-gassing is all you need to know.
Michael McColgin
Preservation Officer
Arizona State Archives
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542- 4159
Fax: (602) 542- 4402
Email: mimccol@dlapr.lib.az.us
URL: www.lib.az.us
Smoke Signal: 0 oo 000 o0o0
Conservators make it last longer.