The stabilization of ivory against relative humidity fluctuations

Ivory can undergo severe cracking and splitting when exposed to adverse environmental conditions. The anisotropic dimensional properties of ivory have been investigated under varied temperature and relative humidity conditions. Migration of moisture into and out of ivory was found to play the principal role in its expansion and contraction. To control the resultant swelling and shrinking, the use of polymer coatings and waxes to act as moisture barriers was examined. A particularly effective polyvinylidene chloride emulsion was further tested for facility of application and aesthetic appearance. The incorporation of plasticizers into ivory to reduce brittleness and thereby relieve stress was also investigated.