Plastics Identification Workshop with Brenda Keneghan (part 2/2)

ICRI is pleased to offer our second workshop with Brenda Keneghan, conservation consultant and trainer in modern materials.

This is an in person workshop and will take place on the 21st of June at 13:30 at the NMI Conservation Department, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin.

There is more and more awareness of the presence of plastics in museum collections. They can be present as small components or entire objects – and frequently come to light when problems are identified. Plastics are not as stable as assumed and it is predominantly the five so called “problem plastics” that cause the main complications. When trying to identify a plastic in a collection there are more than 30 different types of plastics to choose from – showing the importance of a basic knowledge of plastic by conservators and other museum staff who handle objects.

This workshop was developed to assist those who do not have access to analytical techniques and focuses on characteristics that can help identify plastics - such as appearance, feel, smell amongst others. By this method we aim to identify the five problematic plastics and possibly others. Since some groups of plastics are extremely similar, this method of identification will not always give a definitive answer but practice and regular examination will bring more confidence in identification.

The basis of this identification method originates from a flowchart developed in 2008 by the Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP)at the at the Arts University of Bournemouth  Plastics Historical Society.  

If you are interested in attending, please book a ticket via our Eventbrite here. Tickets are free for ICRI members and €10 for non members and are limited to 12 in total. If you have any queries, feel free to contact ICRI at emckeever@icriconservation.ie.

This workshop is supported by generous funding from the Heritage Council of Ireland.

Hyperlink for Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/icri-plastics-identification-workshop-with-brenda-keneghan-tickets-360483264147