Corrosive materials
Corrosive materials – strong acids or bases – are very rare in the collection at MAA but might include deteriorated stone or geological specimens, batteries, or historic medicines. They can generally be recognised by their ability to affect the objects around them through dramatic changes in condition (e.g. corrosion, colour change). If you suspect something is corrosive, do not handle it without gloves and eye protection and contact a conservator to test the pH and assess the risk.
Safe Handling and Response
Corrosive materials can be extremely hazardous or relatively safe, depending on its concentration and condition of the object. They are primarily hazardous in contact with the skin and eyes. Disposable gloves, eye protection and protective clothing are strongly recommended for safe handling. If you come in contact with a corrosive substance, wash the area immediately with lots of fresh water and seek medical attention.
A deteriorating stone object (Z 46185.173) in the Archaeology collection, originally from the Arctic region. This is formed with hygroscopic minerals – capable of drawing water from the air – and produces sulphuric acid that damaged its historic wooden storage container.
Corrosive materials are especially hazardous to proteins like skin but also to inorganic objects made from stone, metal, shell or ceramic. They should be stored in contact with plastic only; polypropylene (PP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are both suitable to higher concentrations of corrosive substances though high-density polythene (HDPE) will work for low concentrations like those found in the collection at MAA.
Though there is no option to label a hazard as ‘Corrosive’ in the ‘Special collection and Hazards’ section of the collections management system, they should nevertheless be labelled as ‘Hazard’ and notes about their condition added in to the relevant field. Storage containers should also be labelled with a red ‘HAZARD’ triangle.
