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Electron Backscatter Diffraction in Conservation Science: Phase Identification of Pigments in Paint Layers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2013

A. Gambirasi ,
L. Peruzzo ,
S. Bianchin  and
M. Favaro
A. Gambirasi*
Affiliation:
Istituto di Chimica Inorganica e delle Superfici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, via Torino 155/b, 30172 Venezia–Mestre, Italy
L. Peruzzo
Affiliation:
Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
S. Bianchin
Affiliation:
Istituto di Chimica Inorganica e delle Superfici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
M. Favaro
Affiliation:
Istituto di Chimica Inorganica e delle Superfici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: arianna.gambirasi@icis.cnr.it
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Abstract

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used in Conservation Science for characterization of ancient materials collected from works of art. The results demonstrate the feasibility of EBSD analysis on heterogeneous matrices as very small samples of paint layers collected from paintings. Two reference pigments were selected from those used by artists to investigate the relationship existing between EBSD pattern quality and properties of the investigated material (i.e., average atomic number, density, and Mohs hardness). The technique was also tested to investigate the pigment phases on two real samples collected from Romanino's Santa Giustina altarpiece, an oil on wood painting dated 1514 (Civic Museum, Padova, Italy). Results show for the first time the acquisition of EBSD patterns from painting samples mounted in resin, i.e., painting cross sections, opening a new powerful tool to elucidate the pigment phases avoiding large sampling on works of arts and to further study the complex mechanisms of pigment deterioration.

Keywords

EBSDpigmentspaint layerscross sectionsancient materialsConservation Science
Type
EBSD Special Section
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 921 - 928
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2013 

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