Gateways logo

ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 45 | June 2000


Saving Australian collections from the ‘vinegar syndrome’

Angeletta Leggio

Cellulose acetate is a polymer material that has been used widely in the production of photographic negatives, motion picture film, microforms and reel-to-reel sound material. However, this material is fundamentally unstable, its deterioration over time giving rise to a characteristic vinegar odour—hence this phenomenon has become known as the ‘vinegar syndrome’.

Cellulose acetate deterioration eventually results in carrier shrinkage and distortion, or in the case of sound material, causes brittleness or oxide shedding when the carrier is played. In response to the serious threat this deterioration poses to a large portion of our twentieth-century documentary heritage, the National Library of Australia has launched its Cellulose Acetate Project.

The aim of the project is to investigate the range of strategies available for dealing with the problem of cellulose acetate degradation in collections. It will survey the extent of the problem nationally and plans to use this information to develop recommendations for cost-effective national action. The effects of cellulose acetate deterioration may be seen from the image pictured right or from those available on the project web site, at www.nla.gov.au/preserve/ca.html.

‘It became obvious from enquiries I’ve dealt with ... that the problem was affecting a large number of collections’

The cellulose acetate project is one of the projects being led by the National and International Preservation Activities (NIPA) area of the National Library. Principal researcher for the project is Ms Angeletta Leggio, (pictured above) who is currently on leave from her position as Photographic Conservator at the State Library of Victoria. According to Angeletta, ‘it became obvious, from enquiries I’ve dealt with over the last few years, that the problem was affecting a large number of collections’. The project commenced in January 2000 with a literature survey, which was carried out by Ms Ceridwen Fraser, a third-year student from the University of Canberra, Conservation of Cultural Materials program.

Cellulose acetate

Although this is a National Library initiative, the Library has invited institutions around Australia to collaborate on the project. To gather information about the condition of Australian collections, and current practices, strategies, attitudes and resources available to deal with the vinegar syndrome, a questionnaire has been sent to a number of Australian institutions.

The response has been good and the National Library thanks all those who have participated. If you would like further information about the project or would like to become involved, please contact Ms Angeletta Leggio, by telephone on (02) 6262 1223 or by email at aleggio@nla.gov.au.

| Contents list for this issue of Gateways |

Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: gateways@nla.gov.au

Gateways logo