Manufacturer Clear polyester drafting films are available from manufacturer with emulsion on one side. The first step in the preservation of polyester drafting films in architectural and cartographic collections is identification. There are several tools available in identifying potentially unstable film-based materials in architectural collections. Both examination and analysis can be extremely useful in selecting new films for reproduction for preservation purposes. However, decisions to employ destructive tests for the purpose of identification of original items in collections must be made within the context of institutional policy and the nature and value of the objects in question.
Infrared spectroscopy is a popular analytic method for identifying organic materials.
This technique transmits an infrared beam through a sample. The National Archives Research and Testing Laboratory used a Nicolet 550 Magna FTIR with an ATR accessory to conduct tests on non-record materials. The Research and Testing Laboratory maintains an expanding FTIR Library of known samples. Test results do not indicate an endorsement of any products by the National Archives. Technical Information Paper no. 5.