Artificial induction of the vinegar syndrome in cellulose acetate motion picture film and multi-analytical protocol for its monitoring

Year: 2025

Authors: Porpora F., Dei L., Maiano A.M., Carretti E.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Florence, Dept Chem Ugo Schiff, Via Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; Univ Florence, CSGI Consortium, Via Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; CNR INO, Largo E Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, FI, Italy.

Abstract: One of the most crucial subjects for cellulose acetate motion picture film conservation is associated with the so-called vinegar syndrome. This paper shows the set up of an innovative procedure for the artificial induction of this degradation process in both cellulose triacetate laboratory samples and real motion picture films. Moreover, a multi-analytical approach based on optical microscopy, gravimetry, solubility, free acidity measurements and tensile tests, combined with acetyl content calculation through Heterogeneous Saponification Method (HSM) and Fourier Transform InfraRed Attenuated Total Reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) was also defined to obtain a complete picture of the evolution of the vinegar syndrome. The procedures presented in this paper are preliminary to the set up of new materials specifically tailored for the inhibition of the vinegar syndrome. The idea is to artificially induce the de-acetylation on cellulose acetate samples in a controlled, reproducible and non-aggressive way for the tested inhibitors, and monitor the evolution of the process through the abovementioned multi-analytical approach. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Volume: 71      Pages from: 184  to: 196

More Information: The present study is a part of the PhD dissertation by Francesca Porpora entitled: Development of an innovative methodology for the treatment of cellulose triacetate motion picture films affected by the vinegar syndrome . Financial support from University of Florence Fondi d’Ateneo per la Ricerca and Fondi d’Ateneo per il Dottorato are gratefully acknowledged. FP thanks Ministero dell’Universita e della Ricerca (MUR) of Italy, Project PRIN 2022 2022XX8BRT PNRR, SMarT4BioArCH , CUP Master B53DZ3014020006, financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU, for the Postdoc Fellowship. Thanks are due to the Istituto Agrario (Technical Institute for Agronomy) , Florence, Italy for kindly providing the motion picture films.
KeyWords: Vinegar syndrome; Motion picture film degradation; De-acetylation; Cellulose acetate; Multi-analytical protocol; Preventive conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2024.11.013