Reel-to-reel magnetic tapes continue to live in the archives of many cultural institutions, from large national networks, to local television studios, and individual collections. Modern sound artists are even using tapes in art exhibitions (such as Marcus Fisher’s “Words of Concern”) and some analog enthusiasts continue to extoll the virtues of reel-to-reel tapes. However, magnetic tapes have a noteworthy lack of stability and many tapes show signs of breakdown, rendering them physically unplayable and endangering their content. Preservation treatments are available, but uncertainty exists in these treatments and how best to apply them.<br/><br/>Library of Congress scientists use a variety of analytical instrumentation to better understand the physical and chemical mechanisms of tape degradation and preservation. The stability of any given reel of tape is complicated by the mass-produced nature of the media and storage conditions. The most frequent cause of tape non-playability are surface residues formed by polymeric phase separation; these residues melt back into the tape under thermal treatment, but can eventually separate again. Further insight into understanding the preservation of audio tape materials will be discussed.

Sticking, squealing, and shedding: polymer science for the preservation of audio tapes

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.