Stability of Cellulose Ester Base Photographic Film: Part II — Practical Storage Considerations

Reilly, James M.; Nishimura, Douglas W.; Erbland, C. J.

doi:10.5594/j02285

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…It is widely recommended that cold storage is the best option to prolong the life of film, which implies that temperature has the greatest impact relative to other (exogenous) factors, or that it is the most cost-effective (18,55,56). This may be true, and our model does not dispute this necessarily.…”

Section: Emulsion Layermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Typically, other changes in the film properties will occur after the vinegar syndrome has been initiated. These include reduction in tensile strength or toughness due to degradation of the polymer (embrittlement), buckling of emulsion away from the base layer (shrinkage and channelling), and surface deposits caused by the migration of plasticiser (crystals or bubbles) (17)(18)(19)(20)(21). Emissions of acetic acid from degraded CTA films have also been shown to induce vinegar syndrome in undegraded films stored nearby, lending cellulose acetate its reputation as a 'malignant' plastic (22,23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are we overestimating the permanence of cellulose triacetate cinematographic films? A mathematical model for the vinegar syndrome

Ahmad

Cane²,

Townsend³

et al. 2020

Polymer Degradation and Stability

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Among the earliest signs of degradation in cellulose triacetate cinematographic films is the generation of acetic acid due to hydrolytic deacetylation of the polymer, marked by an increase in the acidity of the films and emissions of acetic acid leading to a characteristic vinegar odour. We propose a mathematical model for predicting the onset of the vinegar syndrome which accounts for the autocatalytic effect of acetic acid on the deacetylation reaction. Model parameters are estimated from previously published experimental data from other research groups. These show free acidity changes in cellulose triacetate films subjected to accelerated ageing at temperatures of 70-100 °C. The model is validated against a different set of previously published experimental data of cellulose triacetate films aged at 21 °C and 35 °C, at 20, 35 and 50% relative humidity. The model demonstrates good quantitative agreement with the published experimental data. Predictions of film permanence at lower temperatures, similar to those present in the archives in which the films are typically stored, are made and compared with the predictions of film conservation guidelines. The results indicate that film permanence may be overestimated by existing guidelines, which do not account for autocatalysis in their modelling of the deacetylation rate. Our results suggest that cold storage, a common film conservation strategy, may be less effective at inhibiting degradation than previously thought. As cold storage typically requires film to be kept in confined spaces with limited air movement, conditions which promote autocatalysis, the inclusion of autocatalysis in our model is highly applicable to simulating this environment.

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Section: Emulsion Layermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we overestimating the permanence of cellulose triacetate cinematographic films? A mathematical model for the vinegar syndrome

Ahmad

Cane²,

Townsend³

et al. 2020

Polymer Degradation and Stability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…7,8 However, the symptoms of deterioration, when it does occur, are rather different in the two film types. The amount of acetic acid that can be generated by degrading film is surprisingly large; expressing it in terms of teaspoonfuls of household vinegar, in advanced stages of deterioration there can be nine teaspoonfuls or more of vinegar for every four feet of 35mm movie film.…”

Section: Acetate Film and Vinegar Syndromementioning

confidence: 99%

“…8,13,9 With nearly 50 years of manufacturing and keeping experience behind it, polyester film support has shown exceptional chemical stability and overall good physical performance. Polyester film base is inherently more chemically stable than either cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate.…”

Section: Polyester Base Filmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basic Strategy for Acetate Film Preservation

Reilly¹

2002

Microform &Amp; Imaging Review

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This article provides an overview of environmental specifications for film storage. It explains the relationship between temperature, relative humidity (RH), and ‘vinegar syndrome,’ the slow chemical decomposition of acetate plastics leading to loss of their value in a film collection. Its main purpose is to help collection managers evaluate the quality of the storage environment they provide for their film.

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“…However, its gelatine emulsion did not shrink with the film as it did not undergo deterioration, leading to the separation of the emulsion from the film base (a so-called "channelling" effect). Once this process has begun, the remaining life of the film was shortened significantly due to the acceleration and autocatalysis of the degradation reaction [11][12][13][14] .To prevent such degradation, early diagnosis of the films stored under cool and humid conditions is required 10,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . Although standard storage conditions for TAC-based films have been established, chemical analysis of the degradation products was not performed, and efficient diagnostic techniques were not developed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition of the white precipitate formed on the surface of damaged triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films

Takahashi

Sasaki

Hayakawa

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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To achieve a better understanding of the “vinegar syndrome” phenomenon, which has caused serious damage to triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films, the white powder obtained from damaged film surfaces was analysed in this study. The powder was found to be soluble in acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide, and chloroform, but insoluble in water. From the results of 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray fluorescence measurements, it was concluded that the white precipitate had a molecular weight of 326 amu and was composed of triphenyl phosphate (C18H15O4P).

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Stability of Cellulose Ester Base Photographic Film: Part II — Practical Storage Considerations

Cited by 21 publications

References 3 publications

Are we overestimating the permanence of cellulose triacetate cinematographic films? A mathematical model for the vinegar syndrome

Are we overestimating the permanence of cellulose triacetate cinematographic films? A mathematical model for the vinegar syndrome

Basic Strategy for Acetate Film Preservation

Composition of the white precipitate formed on the surface of damaged triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films

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