The display of resin coated (RC) photographs and digital prints on RC type papers are increasingly commonplace at The Museum of Modern Art. Notable examples include the recent acquisition of Fluxus works which includes more than 3,000 photographs, many identified as RC prints, contemporary color photographs and archival materials which are growing in demand for exhibition. This material presents certain challenges because they often require secure contact to a limited area of a surface that has a weak affinity for adhesives. We are currently investigating a selection of adhesives and attachment systems for the display of early RC photographs and assessing new RC papers contemporary photographers are using.
RC papers were developed in the early 1960’s and are now ubiquitous in photography and digital imaging supports. The raw materials can also be found in prints and drawing papers. The optical properties of RC paper and its dimensional stability under high humidity are qualities that contribute to the paper’s popularity. The polyethylene coating on the verso of the RC paper is what makes hinging difficult. When photographs are overmatted for presentation, they are easily set into mats with photo-corners: this is the preferred preservation standard at MoMA. On the other hand, when a photograph needs to be “floated” in the window mat or presentation frame, invisible “v” hinges or some other system must be employed. Large unmounted photographs present further complications and are often attached to rigid supports with a modified strip lining when traditional hinges are deemed insufficient. There can be additional aesthetic factors which must be considered and each photograph is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Nine adhesives and nine films or tapes form the core set of materials in this study. These materials are configured onto two carriers under a variety of application techniques for a total of 36 samples, each replicated four times. Results presented include hands-on workability evaluation, photographic activity test (PAT) findings, silver sensitivity (sodium azide test), and two 9-month natural aging studies of hinges under realistic but high loading.
This study also involves the characterization of contemporary RC and RC-type photographic and digital papers using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, micro-raking light, differential interference contrast (DIC) imaging, and ultraviolet (UV) examination. ATR results indicate the papers vary in polarity ranging from highly olefinic (the type used in the adhesive studies above) to intentionally oxidized surfaces. It is thought the oxidation is designed to improve ink adherence but will facilitate adhesion in general and will beneficially impact the strength of the hinge’s bond. Simple ways to assess wetting of adhesives onto papers of unknown surface polarity will be discussed.
Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them well
ICOM-CC PMWG 2016 - Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam - Evaluation of Adhesive Systems to Hinge-Mount Resin Coated Papers for Photographs and Digital Prints
1. Roberta Piantavigna, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Conservation of Photographs
Chris McGlinchey, Sally and Michael Gordon Conservation Scientist
Lee Ann Daffner, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Conservator of Photographs
The Museum of Modern Art
Partner
Wilhelm Imaging Research Inc.
ICOM-CC Photographic Materials Working Group Interim Meeting
21-24 September 2016
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Evaluation of Adhesive Systems to Hinge-Mount
Resin Coated Papers for Photographs and
Digital Prints
2. Project Objectives and Criteria
TO IDENTIFY AN ADHESIVE AND HINGE SYSTEM THAT IS:
Fully reversible leaving little or no modification to the RC layer
Strong enough to hold large prints
Non-reactive with image material and polyethylene
Has reliable workability
Commercially available
3. Materials Tested
16 RC PAPERS
Tape products
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA)
Lab Cast
Direct Cast Or Reactivated Film
Dry mount film
Heat Activated Thermoplastic (HAT)
5 RC Papers
(processed and unprocessed)
Kodak, Kodak Alaris, Ilford, Fuji
13 RC –Type Papers
Canon, Epson, Hahnemühle
18 ADHESIVES
5. Pre-Test Screening
Preliminary testing eliminated hinge combinations that appeared
fundamentally flawed: scoring evaluated shear strength and
removability.
(Hinge Contact Area: 0.5 cm2)
• 50 candidates (adhesive+carrier)
• 1 unprocessed RC Paper
• 2 medium weight carriers:
- Japanese Paper
- Non woven polyester
(Hollytex)
• Shear test with a load of 270 g
6. Hinging Test
36 of the original 50 candidates passed the pre-test.
• Adhesive: 18 samples: H2O or Ethanol cast, PSA, Film (heat-set)
• 5 Replicates (1control + samples) 144 samples for each test
• Tested on 1 “traditional” RC paper in SHEAR and PEEL
• 9 months of realistic loading (21gr)
7. Adhesive's
classification Adhesive Carrier
SHEAR
STRENGTH
PEEL
STRENGTH
REVERSAB
ILITY PAT ODDY
Cast Adhesive AQUAZOL 500 35% film / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 4 P F
Cast Adhesive AQUAZOL 500 35% film / paper paper 4 4 4 P F
Cast Adhesive AQUAZOL 500 35% H2O / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 4 P F
Cast Adhesive AQUAZOL 500 35% H2O / paper paper 4 0.5 4 P F
Cast Adhesive BEVA D8 / T 85C / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 4 F F
Cast Adhesive BEVA D8 / T 85C / paper paper 4 0.5 4 F F
Cast Adhesive JADE 403 / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 2 F F
Cast Adhesive JADE 403 / paper paper 4 1 2 F F
Cast Adhesive JADE R / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 2 F F
Cast Adhesive JADE R / paper paper 4 1 4 F F
Cast Adhesive KLUCEL G 8% Ethanol / hollytex hollytex 4 1 4 P F
Cast Adhesive KLUCEL G 8% Ethanol / paper paper 4 0.5 4 P F
Cast Adhesive KLUCEL G 8% film / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 4 P F
Cast Adhesive KLUCEL G 8% film / paper paper 4 1 3 P F
Cast Adhesive LASCAUX 303 HV / hollytex hollytex 0 0.5 2 F P
Cast Adhesive LASCAUX 303 HV / paper paper 4 2 2 F P
Cast Adhesive LASCAUX 498 HV 75C / hollytex hollytex 4 1 2 F F
Cast Adhesive LASCAUX 498 HV 75C / paper paper 4 1 2 F F
Cast Adhesive MC MC4 / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 4 P T
Cast Adhesive MC MC4 / paper paper 4 1 4 P T
Cast Adhesive MOUSSE GELATIN 5% / hollytex hollytex 4 0 1 P T
Cast Adhesive MOUSSE GELATIN 5% / paper paper 4 1 2 P T
Cast Adhesive WHEAT STARCH PASTE / hollytex hollytex 4 0.5 2 P T
Cast Adhesive WHEAT STARCH PASTE / paper paper 4 1 3 P T
Film Adhesive BEVA film 371/T 70C / paper paper 4 2 2 P F
Film Adhesive BEVA film 371/T 70C / hollytex hollytex 4 3 2 P F
Film Adhesive BEVA-TEX 66C / Beva carrier beva carrier 4 1 2 P N.A.
Film Adhesive GUDY 870 / paper paper 4 2 2 P P
Film Adhesive GUDY 870 / hollytex hollytex 4 0 2 P P
Tape 3M SCOTCH 001 / taper carrier Tape carrier 4 1 3 F T
Tape 3M SCOTCH 002 / tape carrier Tape carrier 4 0 4 P N.A.
Tape 3M SCOTCH 889 / paper paper 4 0.5 4 P N.A.
Tape 3M SCOTCH 889 / hollytex hollytex 4 0 4 P N.A.
Tape GUDY Dots / paper paper 0 0 3 P N.A.
Tape GUDY Dots / hollytex hollytex 0 0 3 P N.A.
Tape TYVEK TAPE Tape carrier 4 2 2 P P
8. Reliable Workability
Criteria
Strong Enough
Workability of a hinge depends on the physical and chemical properties
of an adhesive and its related application requirements.
Conservator’s skills and familiarity may influence procedure outcomes.
Flat and V-hinges are ,respectively, shear and peel mode of testing.
The capacity of a hinge to support a load is influenced by the adhesive
and the carrier selected. The paper-adhesive bond does not have to be
exceedingly strong - just strong enough to support the paper weight.
9. Non-reactive with Image material and PE
Criteria
Reversibility
Reversibility is considered good when the hinge readily peels off with no
alterations to the paper. When planer deformations, skinning, burnishing
or stubborn adhesive residues result, the score is correspondently low.
AIC-Wiki Material database was consulted (*) and Photographic Activity
Test and Oddy Test were conducted on the most promising untested
adhesives. Arrhenius studies are currently being carried out at Wilhelm
Imaging Research Inc. to assess longevity.
10. Adhesives and tapes
Pre-Test
Result
RECENT PAT_RESULTS PAST PAT RESULTS_1 PAST PAT RESULTS_2 PAST PAT RESULTS_3 ODDY TEST RESULTS
PAST ODDY TEST
RESULTS
3M 415 FAIL NAA 1997 (*)
3M SCOTCH 001 PASS DOWN 2011 (1) MoMA(8/29/2007) MOMA 2016
3M SCOTCH 002 PASS 3M (2/6/99)
3M SCOTCH 889 PASS 3M (2/6/99)
AQUAZOL 500 PASS MoMA (5/25/2016) MOMA 2016
BEVA D8 PASS MoMA (5/25/2016) MOMA 2016
BEVA film 371 PASS DOWN 2011 (1) MURATA/LUNDGREN 2001 MOMA 2016
BEVA-TEX 66C PASS MoMA (9/07/2016)
FILMOPLAST P90 FAIL NESCHEN_PTS 2016 MoMA(8/29/2007) NAA 1997 (*)
FILMOPLAST P90 PLUS FAIL NESCHEN_IPI 2015 MOMA 2011
FILMOPLAST SH FAIL MoMA 2007 GETTY 2011 (*)
GUDY 870 PASS MoMA (8/29/2007) BM 2010 (*)
GUDY Dots PASS IPI 3/25/2015
J-LAR FAIL MoMA (8/29/2007)
JADE 403 PASS MoMA (5/25/2016) MOMA 2016
JADE R PASS MoMA (5/25/2016) MOMA 2016
KLUCEL G PASS MoMA (9/07/2016) MOMA 2016 BM 2013 (*)
LASCAUX 303 HV PASS MoMA (5/25/2016) BM 2015 (2)
LASCAUX 498 HV PASS DOWN 2011 (1) MoMA 2011
METHYLCELLULOSE A4C PASS MoMA (9/07/2016) MOMA 2016
PHOTOGRAPHIC GELATIN PASS MoMA (9/07/2016) MOMA 2016
TYVEK TAPE LINECO PASS MoMA (8/29/2007) NAA 1997 (*) MoMA 2016 BM 2013*
VIEWBOND FAIL
WHEAT STARCH PASTE PASS MoMA (9/07/2016) DOWN 2011 (1) ROBB 1993 (3) MOMA 2016
GUDY 831 UNTESTED NESCHEN_PTS 2016
Sources:
(*) AIC-Wiki Materials Database /Exhibition Adhesives and Tapes: http://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Oddy_Test_Results:_Exhibition_Adhesives_and_Tap
1) Down J.L, Adhesive Compendium for Conservation, Canadian Conservation Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, 2015
2) BM2013 :http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/research_publications_series/2004/selection_of_materials.aspx
3) Robb A., An Investigation of Adhesives Used in Hinging-Resin-Coated (RC), Color (Chromogenic Dye) Photographic Paper, unpublished research
11. RC Paper - Surface
Characterization and Analysis
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) FTIR
In-Situ Contact Angle
XRF
Surface Roughness:
Micro Raking Imaging
Light Section Microscopy
Differential Interference Contrast
Gloss
Material Characterization and Surface Polarity
13. Next Steps Overview
Survey
PAT, Oddy Test
Hinge removal assessment
Aging studies of adhesive from natural and thermal aging
Staining of photo paper from thermal aging
Surface characterization
Physical and chemical compatibility assessment
Large scale mock-ups
Identification of most physically stable systems
14. • Schenck., K., McCabe, C. Preliminary testing of Adhesive used in Photograph
Conservation, Topics in Photographic, Vol. III, 1989
• Down, J.L., Guild, Hill, G., Evaluation of Selected Adhesive Tapes and Heat-Set-
Tissues – A Final Update, J.ACCR, vol. 38, 2013, p.14-25.
• Wagner, S., Pressure Sensitive Tapes and Photos, Abbey Newsletter, vol. 23, no. 4,
1999
• Robb, A., An Investigation of Adhesives Used in Hinging-Resin-Coated (RC), Color
(Chromogenic Dye) Photographic Paper, [draft], 1993
• Micro Raking Enhanced Contrast Imaging:
http://www.moma.org/interactives/objectphoto/materials/surface_analysis.html
• …
References
Supplies
Equipment for In-Situ Contact Angle
• Eppendorf Research Plus Pipette: $ 300 -
http://www.pipette.com/public/productdetails.aspx?pid=36026&gclid=CKLu6p3DtssCFUQ9gQodvqMONA
• Inspection Mirror: - $ 5
http://www.amazon.com/Ullman-B-2T-Telescoping-Inspection-Extended/dp/B008Z679F0
15. Henry Wilhelm & Wilhelm Imaging Research Inc.
Gene Albertelli / Jim Coddington / Ana Martins
Griffin Editions Lab / Richard Misrach / Peter MacGill
Laura Panadero / Hanako Murata & The Better Image
Acknowledgments
Share your comments and suggestions with us
Roberta_piantavigna@moma.org
Chris_mcglinchey@moma.org
Leeann_daffner@moma.org
