Abstract
The objective of the PhD was to evaluate the potential of TOF-SIMS imaging, particularly 3D, to reliably study chemical composition in stratigraphic sections of ancient paintings. TOF-SIMS imaging can simultaneously map organic and inorganic materials at the micrometer scale, providing answers to questions about ancient paintings, such as elucidating the nature of the binders and pigments in the various layers, or studying the chemical transformations of ingredients through the action of time and interactions. The construction of a database of TOF-SIMS mass spectra for reference materials in parallel with the study of several samples of old paintings, has allowed to identify which reliable chemical information can be associated with the use several centuries ago of a given ingredient according to a certain painting technique. The references and the parameters of the analyses were adapted according to the observations made on the cross sections. The identification of drying oils and egg yolk was considered. Different surface preparations and secondary ion extraction parameters were compared to optimise the detection of surface-formed ionic species and obtain more representative chemical information. The conditions under which argon aggregate sputtering can be used were defined. A preliminary analysis of the contribution of TOF-SIMS imaging to the understanding of the structure of dried drying oils has provided results that will be continued in the future.
| Translated title of the contribution | Study of the ageing of old paintings by 3D mass spectrometry imaging |
|---|---|
| Original language | French |
| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Award date | 18 Jan 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Jan 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |