Study of the state of conservation of photographic material supported by a cellulose nitrate base in the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya

Abstract

This article reviews the use of cellulose nitrate as the first plastic base used in photography from the late nineteenth century, based on a study carried out for the final project of a Master’s degree in the Conservation and Restoration of Photographic Heritage at the ESCRBCC. The chemical composition of nitrate makes the material highly unstable and, therefore, its identification is very important. Sometimes the presence of nitrate goes unnoticed in photographic institutions, such as the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya. The special treatment of this material is necessary for its conservation and the safety of other objects and people’s health