Non-Destructive Identification and Characterization of Crystopal, A Novel Mid-Twentieth Century Plastic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Raman Instrument and Data Analysis
2.2. Reference Polymers and Artifacts
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Analysis of Two Original Crystopal Objects and the Establishment of a Crystopal Reference
3.2. Analysis of product Samples and Domestic Items Originating from Winfield’s Personal Collection and Discussion of the HQI Values for Artifacts B–J
3.3. Analysis of Artistic Pieces Originating from Winfield’s Personal Collection and Discussion of the Significance of these Results
4. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
GFR | glass fiber–reinforced |
HQI | hit quality index |
NPCM | National Plastics Center and Museum |
PAC | Plastics Artifacts Collection |
PCL | polycaprolactone |
PET | polyethylene terephthalate |
PST | polystyrene |
SCRC-SUL | Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse University Libraries |
ST/AA | styrene-acrylic acid copolymer |
ST/MA | styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer |
UNM-CSWR-SC | University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections |
UP/ST | unsaturated polyester-styrene copolymer |
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Artifact | SCRC-SUL Accession Number | Description of Appearance | SCRC-SUL Catalog Identification of Manufacturer/Donor |
---|---|---|---|
A | 2003.1335 | Candle holder, cylindrical, pale green, labeled “Original Crystopal” | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM |
B | 2010.085 | Paper weight, spherical, pale green, labeled “Original Crystopal” | Crystopal Ltd./Jeanne DeBell |
C | 2003.1203 | Sample slab, green | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
D | 2003.1318 | Sample slab, green & blue | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
E | 2003.1313 | Sample slab, green & gold, layered | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
F | 2003.1334 | Candle holder, cubic, green | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
G | 2003.1204 | Doorknob, amber (with metal fitting) | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
H | 2003.1336 | Doorknob #14, magenta | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
I | 2003.1337 | Doorknob, amber | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM |
J | 2003.1338 | Doorknob, yellow (with metal fitting) | Crystopal, Ltd./NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
K | 2003.1297 | Horse bust, light green with dark green swirls, lacks crackling | Unidentified/NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
L | 2003.1291 | Fish-shaped tray, green with gold paint detail and embedded gold glitter, lacks crackling | Unidentified/NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
M | 2005.27b | Translucent sphere with embedded bubbles, lacks crackling | Unidentified/NPCM, originally from Armand Winfield |
N | 2003.1333 | Small, bulb-shaped decorative objects (paperweights), six colors: blue, yellow, milky orange, red-orange, milky orange with a white tip, transparent orange | Unidentified/NPCM |
Artifact A | Artifact A, bottom |
Artifact B | Artifact B, bottom |
Artifact C | Artifact D |
Artifact E | Artifact E (side view) |
Artifact F | Artifact G |
Artifact H | Artifact I |
Artifact J |
Artifact K | Artifact L |
Artifact M | Artifact N |
Artifact | SCRC-SUL Accession Number | SCRC-SUL Catalog Identification of Material | Polymer Composition Determined by Raman Spectroscopy | Correlation to Database Standards |
---|---|---|---|---|
A | 2003.1335 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | Added as a reference to the database |
B | 2010.085 | Unidentified (but labeled as Crystopal) | Crystopal | 99.65 |
C | 2003.1203 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | 97.88 |
D | 2003.1318 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | 98.22 |
E | 2003.1313 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | Top (uncrackled) = 98.65 Middle (crackled) = 98.88 Bottom (uncrackled) = 98.13 |
F | 2003.1334 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal | Crystopal | 95.48 |
G | 2003.1204 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | 98.89 |
H | 2003.1336 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | 98.74 |
I | 2003.1337 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | 98.13 |
J | 2003.1338 | Reinforced polyester (Crystopal) | Crystopal | 98.76 |
K | 2003.1297 | Unidentified | Crystopal | 95.17 |
L | 2003.1291 | Unidentified | UP/ST copolymer | 80.11 |
M | 2005.27b | Unidentified | Polystyrene | 99.12 |
N | 2003.1333 | Unidentified | Crystopal | Blue = 98.80 Milky orange = 99.12 Milky orange, white tip = 98.08 Orange = 98.96 Red-orange = 98.62 Yellow = 99.20 |
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Boyden, M.N.; Hicks, C.K.; Korter, T.M. Non-Destructive Identification and Characterization of Crystopal, A Novel Mid-Twentieth Century Plastic. Heritage 2023, 6, 4102-4119. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050216
Boyden MN, Hicks CK, Korter TM. Non-Destructive Identification and Characterization of Crystopal, A Novel Mid-Twentieth Century Plastic. Heritage. 2023; 6(5):4102-4119. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050216
Chicago/Turabian StyleBoyden, Mary N., Courtney K. Hicks, and Timothy M. Korter. 2023. "Non-Destructive Identification and Characterization of Crystopal, A Novel Mid-Twentieth Century Plastic" Heritage 6, no. 5: 4102-4119. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050216
APA StyleBoyden, M. N., Hicks, C. K., & Korter, T. M. (2023). Non-Destructive Identification and Characterization of Crystopal, A Novel Mid-Twentieth Century Plastic. Heritage, 6(5), 4102-4119. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050216