Conclusion
There is a real need for understanding the mechanisms that are
responsible for the changes in polymer performance associated
with specific physical properties. In this article, we have shown that
it was possible to establish cross-correlation of the degradation
chemistry of celluloid with the critical performances of the
museum artifact. Oxidation of celluloid resulting from light irradiation
can be correlated with discolouration of the material, with
gloss changes, formation of cracks and embrittlement. Analytical
methods continue to evolve and by combining polymer chemistry
and physics in a simple approach, understanding and predicting the
degradation and property changes of museum artifacts can be
achieved.