Because cellulose nitrate slowly degrades under normal room conditions, some important works of art made out of this early polymeric material have been and are being lost. Since decomposition is magnified by elevated temperatures, relative humidities and exposures to ultraviolet (UV) light, it is important to define the effects these conditions have on the degradation rate of cellulose nitrate. This paper presents preliminary results of an evaluation of comparative effects of temperature (50, 25, 15°C), relative humidity (81, 53, 11% RH), oxygen (20.9, 0.1%) and UV light on the condition of cellulose nitrate samples. The changes III elemental composition of new and 80-year-old cellulose mtrate are monitored by the measurement of their carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content using organic elemental analysis. The effects of the controlled conditions on cellulose nitrate are shown in relation to the initial composition of the samples. After 75 days exposure to the relatively mild conditions, only small changes have been found in the elemental composition of the samples.
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