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Polymers

The degradation and conservation of plastics.

In the 20th century artists often used synthetic polymers, or plastics. They made artworks that are now seen in museums and considered masterpieces. But for how long? 

Soft vase, Hella Jongerius, Droog, soft polyurethane.

Soft vase, Hella Jongerius, Droog, soft polyurethane.

Unfortunately some synthetic materials degrade faster than expected. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands focuses on identifying plastic objects, studying and monitoring the degradation of polymers, cleaning, consolidating and applying coatings to plastics, and disseminating knowledge on the subject. 

Sub-projects 

This project was divided into four sub-projects: