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Table 1 Polymers selected for analysis in this study

From: Assessment of historical polymers using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy with principal component analysis

Sample

Source

Object

Description

Polystyrene

   

HS 36

ResinKit™

 

Colourless, transparent, rigid

HS 38

ResinKit™

 

White, opaque, rigid

HS 405

Private collection

Stereo cassette player

White, opaque, rigid

HS 409

Private collection

Cassette tape

Grey, opaque, rigid

HS 446

SPRA

Moulded shape

Colourless, transparent, rigid

Cellulose acetate

   

HS 91

Private collection

Crumb brush

Pink, opaque, rigid

HS 474

Private collection

Thin film

Colourless, transparent

HS 475

Private collection

Thin film

Colourless, transparent

HS 476

Private collection

Thin film

Colourless, transparent

HS 477

Private collection

Thin film

Colourless, transparent

Cellulose nitrate

   

HS 270

Private collection

Comb

White, opaque, rigid

HS 271

Private collection

Cigarette case

Mock tortoiseshell, transparent, rigid

HS 248

Private collection

Ruler

Orange, transparent, rigid

Polycarbonate

   

HS 52

ResinKit™

 

Colourless, transparent, rigid

HS 143

Private collection

Dolls milk bottle

Green, transparent, curved, rigid

HS 413

Private collection

Drinking glass

Colourless, transparent, curved, rigid

HS 466

SPRA

Moulded shape

Colourless, transparent, rigid

HS 467

SPRA

Raw polymer beads

Colourless, transparent, rigid

Rubber

   

HS 268

Private collection

Pipette bulb

Brown, opaque, cracked

HS 269

Private collection

Dolls head

Brown, opaque, cracked

HS 103

Private collection

Hot water bottle

Brown, opaque, pliable

PVC

   

HS 62

ResinKit™

 

Colourless, transparent, rigid

HS 415

Private collection

Swim arm bands

Yellow, opaque, textured, pliable

HS 424

Private collection

Record

Black, opaque, ridged, pliable

HS 430

Private collection

Money wallet

Black, opaque, pliable

HS 468

SPRA

Moulded shape

Grey, opaque, rigid

Polyurethane

   

HS69

ResinKit™

 

Colourless, transparent, elastomer

HS 86

Private collection

Packing material

White, foam

HS 458

SPRA

Packing material

Pink, antistatic foam

HS 461

SPRA

Packing material

Black, foam

HS 464

SPRA

Packing material

Grey, foam

Polypropylene

   

HS 77

ResinKit™

 

White, opaque, rigid

HS 400

Private collection

Thermos® flask

Black, opaque, rigid

HS 403

Private collection

Thermos® flask cup

White, opaque, rigid

HS 416

Private collection

Tupperware® box

Brown, opaque, rigid

HS 444

SPRA

Moulded object

Colourless, semi-transparent, rigid

Polyethylene

   

HS 80

ResinKit™

 

White, opaque, pliable

HS 404

Private collection

Scalextric crash barrier

White, opaque, pliable

HS 417

Private collection

Tupperware® lid

Colourless, semi-transparent, pliable

HS 459

SPRA

Packing material

Black, crosslinked foam

HS 463

SPRA

Packing material

White, non-crosslinked foam