Inherent vice

Inherent vice is the tendency in physical objects to deteriorate because of the fundamental instability of the components of which they are made, as opposed to deterioration caused by external forces.[1][2] All objects have some kind of inherent vice as a result of the baseline law of entropy.

This article is about the concept of inherent vice in preservation. For the 2014 film, see Inherent Vice (film).

Preservation issues
An example of inherent vice: the iron gall ink used in this manuscript (from Igreja de São Francisco, Évora, Portugal) has oxidized the cellulose, causing the paper to disintegrate.

The term is broadly used in archival practice to recognize the material constraints of preservation activities. For example, many kinds of paper have acid in them that makes them chemically unstable. Over time, the acid will eat away the text on the page and cause paper to turn yellow or brown and become brittle. As the acid continues to break down the cellulose fibers, the paper disintegrates.[3] In the world of philately, the adhesive on the back of stamps is both an inherent vice—any exposure to moisture will compromise their ability to be preserved—as well as the purpose for which the stamps were made.[3] In the case of film, an example of inherent vice is the innate chemical instability of cellulose acetate film, which can result in the degradation known as "vinegar syndrome" due to the distinctive vinegar odor it produces.[4]

Slowing this tendency of objects to self-destruct requires an understanding of how materials interact. This includes not just an understanding of the intrinsic qualities of the materials themselves, but also the way that they affect and are affected by the other materials that they come into contact with.[5] For example, leather and metal are two materials which are frequently used in combination with each other, but react to each other over time to cause corrosion on the metal.[3]

The presence of deteriorating agents is a problem which can be tempered by selecting archival quality materials, such as acid free paper.[5] However, frequently the objective of manufacturers is to make a process (i.e. papermaking, book binding, etc.) faster and easier; the longevity of the items they produce is not their primary concern.[2]

The term inherent vice is used in law as well as in library and archival science. One legal definition of inherent vice is "an exclusion found in most property insurance policies eliminating coverage for loss caused by a quality in property that causes it to damage or destroy itself."[6]

Inherent vice can be used as a justification for refusing to insure an item, as its intrinsically self-destructive nature may make it unacceptable risk to a carrier or insurer.[7]

References
  1. Pearce-Moses, Richard (2012). A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology, Entry for Inherent Vice. Society of American Archivists. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  2. "Session 2: Inherent vice: Materials". Preservation 101: Preservation Basics for Paper and Media Collections. Northeast Document Conservation Center. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  3. "Inherent Vice". National Postal Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  4. "Session 3: Inherent vice: Film Supports". Preservation 101: Preservation Basics for Paper and Media Collections. Northeast Document Conservation Center. Archived from the original on 20 June 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  5. Jill Snyder (27 November 2001). Caring for Your Art: A Guide for Artists, Collectors, Galleries, and Art Institutions. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp. 7–. ISBN 978-1-58115-200-5. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  6. International Risk Management Institute Insurance Glossary, http://www.irmi.com/online/insurance-glossary/terms/i/inherent-vice.aspx
  7. "Inherent Vice". BusinessDictionary.com. WebFinance, Inc. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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