Abstract
To achieve a better understanding of the “vinegar syndrome” phenomenon, which has caused serious damage to triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films, the white powder obtained from damaged film surfaces was analysed in this study. The powder was found to be soluble in acetone, diethyl ether, dimethylformamide, and chloroform, but insoluble in water. From the results of 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray fluorescence measurements, it was concluded that the white precipitate had a molecular weight of 326 amu and was composed of triphenyl phosphate (C18H15O4P).
Highlights
To achieve a better understanding of the “vinegar syndrome” phenomenon, which has caused serious damage to triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films, the white powder obtained from damaged film surfaces was analysed in this study
As the plasticisers examined in this work included esters, additional peaks corresponding to aliphatic hydrocarbons were observed as well
The results of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) studies showed that the white precipitate collected from the motion picture films stored in the library of the Tokyo Polytechnic University was Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) (C18H15O4P)
Summary
To achieve a better understanding of the “vinegar syndrome” phenomenon, which has caused serious damage to triacetyl cellulose-based motion picture films, the white powder obtained from damaged film surfaces was analysed in this study. Triacetyl cellulose (TAC), which contains no free hydroxyl groups (its degree of acetyl substitution is equal to 3.0) represents a typical CA derivative It has been used as the base material for photographic, motion picture, and microscopic films since the development of so-called safety films in the 1920s as a replacement for the unstable and highly flammable cellulose nitrate base. Its gelatine emulsion did not shrink with the film as it did not undergo deterioration, leading to the separation of the emulsion from the film base (a so-called “channelling” effect) Once this process has begun, the remaining life of the film was shortened significantly due to the acceleration and autocatalysis of the degradation r eaction[11,12,13,14]. It was found that the degradation process caused film shrinkage and increased film brittleness, owing to the hydrolysis of acetyl ester, glycoside bond cleavage, and loss of plasticisers
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