Organometallic Pt(II) Containing Polymer as Silver Protection Against Sulfide Tarnishing

In this work, the use of a film of an organometallic polymer, namely Pt-DEBP, has been tested for the selective capture of sulfides with the aim of protecting silver object. Ag foils were exposed to different environmental conditions in the presence of Pt-DEBP films. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and colorimetric studies allowed to assess that the polymeric layer selectively captures H2S, preventing the tarnishing of the silver substrate over a period at least of 2 months, without any manipulation of the sample. This approach open new perspectives for the prevention of aging effects on silver objects of artistic interest, for which cleaning or coating procedures should be avoid. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 128: 304-309, 2013