Physico-Chemical Research of Cultural Heritage Materials Using Microanalytical methods

Abstract

The research work included in this thesis is focused on the characterisation of five different materials: paintings, baroque mirrors, natural fibres, organ pipes and several metallic artefacts, which are representative of Spanish Cultural Heritage. All of these ornamental elements are characteristic of the Andalusian Baroque period of art. One of the main contributions of this work is the application of synchrotron radiation-based techniques at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) within the Cultural Heritage Group. These synchrotron x-ray techniques were carried out in combination with other analytical laboratory techniques such as x-ray diffraction, micro-infrared, micro-Raman spectroscopy, optical and electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry. Synchrotron radiation was very powerful and useful in the detection, analysis and distribution of different elements and crystal phases. These findings are critical to the different aspects of the artwork.