Environmental degradation of polymers for cultural heritage

Plastic materials are used both for the protection of cultural heritage and as material for artworks. As for other materials, the durability and the maintenance of their initial properties are fundamental for the use of these materials. For the protection of the cultural heritage (particularly for stone artworks) the main important properties are the hydrophobicity, the UV transparency and the water vapour permeability that must be maintained even after a long exposure to the environmental conditions (UV irradiation, rain, temperature variations, etc.). When the polymers are used for the production of an artwork, the most important characteristics are the maintenance of the aesthetical appe…