The aim of this study was to investigate the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in magnetic tapes after several decades of natural ageing at room temperature. Headspace solid-phase microextraction was used as a sample preparation technique and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to characterise the VOCs. Eight samples of polyester-based magnetic tapes having a magnetic coating made of a poly(urethane-ester) polymeric binder, various additives and magnetic particles were investigated. The compounds identified in the samples were fatty acid ester lubricants, compounds from antioxidants such as 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol, manufacturing by-products such as cyclic polyester oligomers, and deterioration compounds from the magnetic coating. Homologous series of carboxylic acids, furanones and aldehydes have also been identified. The latter compounds were exclusively present in the magnetic coating and could be related to the odour intensity by odour sensory ranking testing. These compounds are most likely to be the source of the often reported characteristic smell.

This report identifies and documents best practice solutions and possible tools to improve digital preservation of massive amounts of 'difficult media': film rolls, open reel video and audio, audio disks.

Passionné par la photographie et la phonographie, Charles Cros voulait soumettre le temps. Il est curieux de constater qu'aujourd'hui la rencontre de l'image et du son, du numérique et de l'optique va enfin nous permettre d'exaucer son rêve. Ainsi des millions d'enregistrements phonographiques menacés par les ans et victimes de lectures qui chaque fois estompent un peu plus la mémoire de ces supports, vont enfin retrouver une nouvelle jeunesse grâce à des procédés de lecture optique sans contact. Parmi ceux-ci le système " Clareety " développé par une équipe de chercheurs de l'INA dispose de nombreux atouts pour répondre aux besoins des archivistes et des professionnels de la restauration.

Known or suspected deterioration mechanisms are presented in this report with their relations to deterioration symptoms as experienced while playing back some archival magnetic tapes. Related condition assessment methods are described. The on-site transfer of these methods are evaluated. A proposal for a “condition assessment method” based on knowledge database and knowledge management system is proposed in a second part.

Guides to the use of early videotape equipment

Playback devices; Robotics and automation; Media condition assessment; system integration

An index of the PrestoSpace work that explains or develops digital technology relevant to audiovisual collections.