Database of FTIR spectra of polymer materials in the collections of the Technical Museum in Brno

The database was created for the purpose of identifying polymer materials in collection items for curators, conservator-restorers, museum staff, and the professional public. Most of the items selected are everyday objects from the collections of the Technical Museum in Brno, which may also be found in the collections of other institutions. The selection was focused on covering the widest possible range of material types found in the collections. Items in the database can be selected by product type or by the polymer used. Since many items contain several different synthetic polymers, individual parts were analyzed to give database users an overview of what, for example, power cable insulation, covers, or moving mechanism components are made of. For each polymer material, its characteristics, trade names, specific types of damage, and identifying features are described. Due to the ATR contact technique used, the selection of objects was limited by their dimensions so that it was not necessary to take a material sample. In addition to the polymer itself, the measured spectra also show the presence of additives (mainly plasticizers and fillers) and degradation products, which make it difficult to interpret the spectra themselves and identify the polymer. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used as a supplementary analysis to determine the additives, thanks to which significant elements were identified.

The database of FTIR spectra of polymer materials in the collections of the Technical Museum in Brno was created on the basis of institutional support for the long-term conceptual development of the Technical Museum in Brno research organization provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic for the period 2024–2028.