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Film Decomposition Tests
In the paper that begins on p. 268 of this JOURNAL, Cummings Button and Silfin point out the serious losses that may result from decomposition in storage of cellulose nitrate motion picture film. Much of this potential loss could no doubt be avoided if a reliable test for future storage life were applied to films now being stored for commercial and archival purposes. No such test is now used regularly in the United States, but recently the attention of film librarians has been directed to two such tests developed in England, under the auspices of the British Government's Chemical Research and Development Establishment and the Department of the Government Chemist. In Report No. 2/R/48, "The Surveillance of Cinematograph Record Film During Storage/' by G. L. Hutchison, L. Ellis, and S. A. Ashmore, the authors described a rather extensive investigation of the stability of film in storage and outlined the details of two test procedures which they have found useful. Further information concerning the use of these tests and the results obtained may be secured from the British Film Institute, 164 Shaftesbury, London, England. This is a government department similar to the U.S. National Archives.
So that the SMPTE's Preservation of Film Committee may have the benefit of a number of points of view concerning both the value of such tests generally and the advisability of further committee study in this direction, a brief summary of this British Report and an outline of the test methods are described immediately below. Comments and recommendations should be addressed to James W. Cummings, Chairman, SMPTE Preservation of Film Committee, The National Archives, Washington 25, D.C.
SUMMARY
"The deterioration of nitrocellulose useful life of the film, and as such film
base cinematograph film on pro cannot be duplicated it represents a
longed storage is brought about by a total loss of record,
slow but progressive decomposition "Two tests, based on methods of
of the nitrocellulose. The changes known value in the examination of
occurring are complex but it seems nitrocellulose explosives, have been
clear that the gelatine on the film acts developed whereby it is possible to
as a stabilizer and accordingly suffers anticipate the end of the useful life of
deterioration which involves loss of a film. The results of these tests
the contained silver image at about allow sufficient time for a film to be
the same time that the film becomes duplicated while still in good physical
sticky. This stage is the end of the condition.
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