questions aboutElastomer

• What year was the artwork made?
• Do you see a brand name or logo anywhere?

  NA YES NO
  • Search in the list of names, on this website (names can be found under INFO) or on the internet, if you can find more about it.

    NA YES NO
• Do you think you recognise the elastomer?

  NA YES NO
  • Do you recognise it as latex / natural rubber?

    

    NA YES NO
    • Does the elastomer have a similar smell as reference sample G-02?

      NA YES NO
    • Was the elastomer poured/formed by the artist?

      NA YES NO
    • Is the elastomer light brown/caramel in colour?

      

      NA YES NO
    • Does the elastomer appear to be discoloured/yellowed?

      

      NA YES NO
  • Do you recognise it as silicone rubber?

    

    NA YES NO
    • Does the elastomer have a glossy (smooth) side? (It is possible that there is a duller (rougher) side is).

      NA YES NO
    • Was the elastomer poured/formed or sprayed with a spray can by the artist?

      

      NA YES NO
    • Is it possible to rub the elastomer and does it feel like reference sample E-02? ('oily'/smooth)

      NA YES NO
• Has the elastomer been applied using a nozzle?

  

  NA YES NO
  • Does the material appear to have been applied with a glue gun?

    NA YES NO
    • PE, PA and EVA are commonly used plastics in glue guns. Glues are not dealt within this tool.

      NA YES NO
• Can you see small circular (ejector pin) marks and/or sprue pin marks?

  

  NA YES NO
• Is the object artist made?

  

  NA YES NO
• Are drops visible from the casting process?

  

  NA YES NO
• Do you see any air bubbles?

  

  NA YES NO
• Does the elastomer have a smell?

  NA YES NO
  • Does it smell of old sneakers such as reference sample G-02?

    NA YES NO
  • Does the elastomer smell sweet like a shower curtain/swimming arm bands like reference sample G-05?

    NA YES NO
  • Does it have a sweet chemical smell like reference sample G-06?

    NA YES NO
  • Does its smell of new car tyres like reference sample G-08?

    NA YES NO
• Is it a sheet?

  

  NA YES NO
• Is the elastomer under strain? (stretched)

  

  NA YES NO
  • Please note: If the elastomer is under strain it will degrade more easily. It will tear faster and eventually go hard.

    NA YES NO
• Is it a fabricated product? (object of use)

  NA YES NO
  • Please note: A list of applications will follow. See if the elastomer can be categorised under one of the applications. You do not need to answer NO to options that do not match.

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a rubber ring / washer or something similar?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a hose/pipe?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Is it electric cable?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Is the object used by the military?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a heat resistant (household) object?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a toy?

    NA YES NO
    • Is it a squeaky toy?

      

      NA YES NO
    • Is the toy jelly-like like reference sample E-04?

      

      NA YES NO
    • Is it a doll/doll's head?

      

      NA YES NO
  • Is it a (piece of) bicycle or car tyre?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a glove?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it an eraser?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a balloon?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a condom?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it an elastic band?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a shoe/sole of a shoe?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a rain boot?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a wetsuit or something similar?

    NA YES NO
  • Is it a small wheel?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Is the material made from thread, like a pantyhose, fishing line, fake rattan or something similar?

    

    NA YES NO
    • It is then it is most likely PA (Polyamide), also known as Nylon.

      NA YES NO
    • Is or was it light coloured (whitish) and does it strongly reflect UV?

      NA YES NO
      • That is a distinguishing quality of white PA.

        NA YES NO
• Does the elastomer show signs of degradation / damage?

  

  NA YES NO
  • Is it discoloured/yellowed?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Has the elastomer become hard and brittle?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Are there crumbles of the materials visible?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does the material show craquelure?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does it show an elephant skin?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does it show tears/cracks despite not having been under tension?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does it show breakages?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does it show a white efflorescence/bloom?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does it show a liquid efflorescence/weeping?

    

    NA YES NO
• Does the elastomer allow light to pass through it?

  NA YES NO
  • Is the elastomer (coloured) transparent?

    NA YES NO
    • Is the elastomer unshaped?

      NA YES NO
      • Can you hold a piece of the elastomer at a 45 degree angle between two perpendicular placed polarisation filters and/or between two parallel placed polarisation filters?

        

        NA YES NO
        • Are bright colours (red, blue, green, purple and/or yellow) visible in the coloured film like reference sample F-01?

          NA YES NO
        • Are grey-blue / brown / whitish colours visible in the coloured film like reference sample F-11?

          NA YES NO
        • Does nothing happen to the elastomer like reference sample F-12?

          NA YES NO
  • Is the elastomer colourless and transparent?

    NA YES NO
    • Is the elastomer crystal clear?

      NA YES NO
    • Can you shine UV light on the elastomer?

      NA YES NO
      • Does the elastomer fluoresce under UV like reference sample F-03 or F-04? (lights up)

        NA YES NO
        • Does the elastomer take on a yellow/green colour under UV like reference sample F-04?

          NA YES NO
        • Does the elastomer look like reference sample F-03 under UV? (blue/purple/white)

          NA YES NO
      • Does the elastomer not fluoresce colour at all under UV?

        NA YES NO
• Is the elastomer opaque?

  NA YES NO
  • Is the elastomer black in colour?

    NA YES NO
• Does the elastomer have a high gloss like reference sample E-02?

  

  NA YES NO
• Can you touch the object?

  open the questions
  Beware: touching it can damage the artwork!
  
  
• Are you able to softly rub the surface?

  NA YES NO
  • When there is visible aging; Does the elastomer feel hard and brittle?

    

    NA YES NO
  • Does the elastomer feel 'oily'/smooth like reference sample E-02?

    NA YES NO
  • Does the elastomer feel supple like the smooth side of reference sample E-02?

    NA YES NO
  • Do you feel resistance like reference sample E-03 when rubbing the surface?

    NA YES NO
  • Does the elastomer feel jelly-like like reference sample E-04?

    NA YES NO
  • Does the elastomer have a velvetly feel like reference sample F-09?

    NA YES NO
  • Is the elastomer malleable like clay?

    

    NA YES NO
• Does the elastomer feel jelly-like like reference sample E-04?

  NA YES NO
• Can you stretch it out just like, or more than reference sample E-05?

  NA YES NO
• Is the elastomer still in good condition?

  NA YES NO
  • Is the elastomer flexible but not stretchy like reference sample R-01?

    NA YES NO
• Can you test the object / take a sample?

  open the questions
  Beware: taking a sample can damage the artwork!
  
  
• Can you make a mark in the elastomer with the porcupine quill?

  NA YES NO
  • Does it feel like you can really press into the material?

    NA YES NO
  • Does the scratch appear to be 'on top of' the material?

    NA YES NO
• Can you take a (very small) sample?

  NA YES NO
  • Is it easy to cut a sample off?

    NA YES NO
  • If you cut off a sample, is the surface of the cut smooth?

    NA YES NO
  • If you cut off a sample does the material crumble easily?

    NA YES NO
• Does the Beilstein test give a green flame?

  NA YES NO