A model approach for finding cleaning solutions for plastidcized polyvinyl chloride surfaces of collection objects

This study focused on developing a surface cleaning treatment for one type of commercially available plasticized poly(vinyl chloride). The effects of several cleaning solutions on samples of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) were examined by several methods. The sample surface, prior to and after artificial photo-aging, was cleaned with several selected cleaning agents and examined physically (visual examination and under magnification) and chemically (attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). More than one type of effective cleaning solutions for the plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) used in the study was found. In addition, a specific method to tailor cleaning mixtures for plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) objects was developed by means of Hildebrand solubility parameters and the formulation of a Plasticizer Index calculated by quantitative measurements of the plasticizer obtained by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Since this type of plastic material posed a standard cleaning challenge, the treatment described in this study can serve as a model or guideline for the investigation of additional cleaning methods for plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) objects.