| AVS 63rd International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Applied Surface Science | Thursday Sessions |
| Session AS+SS-ThM |
| Session: | Depth Profiling, Buried Interfaces, and 3D Analyses |
| Presenter: | Zachary Voras, University of Delaware |
| Authors: | Z.E. Voras, University of Delaware C.M. Goodwin, University of Delaware J.L. Mass, Rijksmuseum K.R. DeGhetaldi, Winterthur Museum T.P. Beebe, Jr., University of Delaware |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
In historical art objects, binding-medium degradation involves complex chemistries that can occur at the surface or interface of a paint layer. These can propagate inward toward the bulk material, caused by inherent impurities within the paint that migrate throughout the paint layer. These effects can cause mechanical failure due to binding-medium degradation, primarily observed as paint-layer flaking, spalling, and fracture. Our prior research performed on Renaissance-era artwork has indicated two major correlations to the severity of binding-medium degradation: i) depletion of long-chain fatty acid components within the binding medium of a paint layer, and ii) alteration of the amino-acid composition of proteinaceous materials comprising the binding medium. In this study, the effects of controlled aging factors (i.e., heat, humidity, and UV exposure) on thin films of egg tempera were observed through the use of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The newly available technology of gas cluster ionization sources (GCIS) allows for the ability to depth profile through some soft organic and biological materials with no little or no ion-induced damage. By using an argon-cluster ion beam to depth profile through a degraded thin film, a 3-dimensional analysis of short- and long-range degradation effects, followed by XPS and ToF-SIMS, respectively, was performed. Since ultramicrotomy is an established sample-preparation technique in the art conservation field, results of GCIS will be compared to ultramicrotomy as sample preparation method for organic and biological thin films.