Characterization and quantification of modern painting materials by IR and Raman spectroscopies

Abstract

The objectives of this work of thesis were to characterize and quantify different contemporary painting materials and to study the drying processes of the binders. In particular an acrylic (Plextol D498) and an alkyd (Alkyd Medium 4) binder, individually mixed with three pigments: artificial ultramarine blue, chromium hydrate oxide green and cadmium yellow were studied. The study was focused on the analysis by IR and Raman spectroscopy, and reflectance spectrophotometry. The quantitative study carried out including a statistic study, allowed a very reliable quantification of the various binders and pigments in the sample mixtures. The calibration curve obtained was used to determine the components even in unknown and commercial samples. The drying processes of the two binders under investigation were studied, both pure and in mixture with the pigments.