Modelling plasticiser loss inside closed environments

Plasticiser loss, a fundamental mechanism in the degradation of polymeric materials, leads to material instability and contamination environment. The process depends on environmental conditions, but size container which an object is housed thickness also play key roles rate plasticiser loss time at equilibrium reached. Understanding these dependencies provides valuable insight into plastic museum artefacts inside enclosures as typified by storage and, more broadly, deterioration materials closed environments. Migration low molecular weight plasticisers, like diethyl phthalate or dimethyl phthalate, from plastics has been widely studied accelerated ageing experiments elevated temperatures different airflows. Here, investigate effects, we modelled stagnant environment enclosure room temperature. Our model one-dimensional describes through two-phase transient diffusion process, between solid air. comparison numerical simulations FTIR 1H NMR spectroscopic data cellulose acetate samples plasticised with aged T = 70 °C 50% relative humidity indicates that appropriate for thin enclosed plastics. We applied over range coefficients [10−21–10−14 m2 s−1] partition [103–107] represent materials. Under investigated scenarios, tolerate maximum total 10% timescales vary 1 109 years. relationship dimensions can suggest how improve packaging products minimise well future conservation strategies guidelines artefacts.