J.IIC-CG VOLUME 7 (1982)
An Initial Approach to the Stabilization of Rubber from Archaeological Sites and in Museum Collections
Objects of natural rubber or with rubber components can be found in many museum collections. However, as a relatively recent material, there has been only limited study of rubber by conservators. This article briefly describes the history of the fabrication of articles from natural rubber, and the nature of both the crude and manufactured material. The deterioration of natural rubber is discussed, and several approaches to the conservation of both waterlogged and dry rubber artifacts are illustrated. The bibliography includes references on 19th-century footwear, on the composition and degradation of rubber, and on the growth of the rubber industry.
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