For The Italian Celluloid Nitrate Geeks Out There (Like Me)....

[Jason Oliver]

Found a couple of interesting articles relative to the preservation of celluloid nitrate film that may be of value to pen collectors:

https://hyperallergic.com/343828/the-unlikely-story-of-how-nitrate-film-endures

https://americanarchivist.org/doi/pdf/10.17723/aarc.73.2.n2746075wr84356t

In summary, their recommendations are consistent with what many FPN regulars already know, ie. to store celluloid nitrate in cool, dry environments so as to slow the decay (ie off-gassing of nitrates) - 40 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) and 20%-30 % humidity being optimal (at least as regards vintage celluloid nitrate film).

The researcher in the second article concludes that "happily, primary decomposition catalyzed by temperature and moisture is also very slow in ambient conditions, and slower still—indeed, virtually negligible—at the temperature and humidity levels recommended for long-term storage of nitrate film (40°F / 2°C and 20–30% RH, respectively)". Of course, it bears repeating that one should locate celluloid pens apart from each other to reduce the cumulative effects of their off-gassing.

Loved the example they quoted from Kodak that their celluloid nitrate print material made in 1932 had a predicted lifespan of fifty years, while a print on celluloid nitrate stock manufactured that same year by Dupont had a predicted lifespan of 600 years (!)

!+!+!+! Long live celluloid nitrate !+!+!+!

 

Edited May 10, 2020 by Jjota

[RubenDh]

Interesting. Other temperatures have been mentioned in another very interesting article:

 

"Cellulose nitrate should be stored below

68°F (20°C), with a temperature of 50°F (10°C)

being preferable"

 

https://orb.binghamton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1169&context=neha

Edited May 10, 2020 by RubenDh

[Seney724]

I think about this a lot......... and worry about it, too!

 

Here are the references which I have found to be most helpful:

 

https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-rubber-plastic.html

 

https://nmscarcheologylab.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/enemies-of-the-curator-deterioration-of-celluloid-and-natural-rubber-objects/