All too often polymer composite materials, commonly called �plastic�, are described solely by the base polymer.  However, material properties also are tied to plasticizers and other components.  Accurate characterization of �plastic� requires multi-component search strategies.  This is especially critical in the museum context, where the challenge often is to identify and diagnose deteriorating artifacts of unknown composition spanning two centuries of evolving technology.  Raman is a non-destructive tool that distinguishes the constituent compounds, but relies on comprehensive spectral libraries and innovative approaches to reverse engineer mixtures.  In response to this need, 100 polymer and 90 plasticizer reference materials were analyzed using Fourier transform and dispersive Raman spectroscopies.  These spectra form the basis of a searchable reference library of 19th-21st century materials.  In keeping with the Smithsonian mission to increase and diffuse knowledge, these spectra will be made freely downloadable on the Smithsonian Institution website (www.si.edu).

Deciphering polymer composite artifacts by Raman spectroscopy:  Creation and free sharing of spectral reference libraries

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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