The Use of FTIR and Micro-FTIR Spectroscopy: An Example of Application to Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Recommended by Maher S. AmerMicro-FTIR and FTIR spectroscopy is useful for the study of degradation forms of cultural heritage. In particular it permits to identify the degradation phases and to establish the structural relationship between them and the substratum. In this paper, we report the results obtained on marble from a Roman sarcophagus, located in the medieval cloister of St. Cosimato Convent (Rome), and on oolitic limestone from the facade of St. Giuseppe Church in Syracuse (Sicily). The main components found in the samples of both monuments are: gypsum, calcium oxalate, and organic matter due to probably conservation treatments. In particular, the qualitative distribution maps of degradation products, obtained by means of micro-FTIR operating in ATR mode, revealed that the degradation process is present deep inside the stones also if it is not visible macroscopically. This process represents the main cause of crumbling of the substrate. The results of this research highlight the benefits of the μ-FTIR analysis providing useful insights on the polishing and consolidation processes of stone materials.

An analysis of the black crusts from the Seville Cathedral: A challenge to deepen the understanding of the relationships among microstructure, microchemical features and pollution sources

“…4d) performed on CS-BG sample. In detail, an oxalate layer, originated from the degradation of a protective coating, is typically located at the crust-stone interface (La Russa et al, 2009), but in this case calcium oxalate is heterogeneously located within the whole crust.…”

Non-destructive in situ spectroscopic analysis of greenstone objects from royal burial offerings of the Mayan site of Palenque, Mexico

“…The technique permits the identification of characteristic vibrations associated with functional groups in a given molecule [2]. Raman spectroscopy, being non-destructive, fast, sensitive, reproducible and less expensive than other techniques is being increasingly used for artwork analyses [3], in particular for pigment identification.…”

“Argento Deaurato” or “Argento Biancheggiato”? A Rare and Interesting Case of Silver Background in Italian Painting of the XIII Century

“…The thin film over the silvered surface was also characterized by DRIFT, which is well-known to generate high-quality IR spectra in reflectionabsorption configuration ( Figure 5A, spectrum c). Besides the presence of overlapping signals originating from the underlying gypsum layer (1680 and 1632 cm −1 ), a mixture of proteinaceous material (signals at 1650, 1576, and 1550 cm −1 ) and calcium oxalates (1636, 1320, and 780 cm −1 ) was identified [21][22][23]. The band presence at 1320-1325 cm −1 is typical of whewellite (Ca(C2O4) H2O) [24].…”