Art Conservation Research & Archaeometry

Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy are among the most widely used techniques for artifact analysis and archaeometry. Non-destructive analytical sampling techniques are required for art historians, museum conservators and scientists who try to characterize the attribution of the historical period and genuineness of an artifact.

Bruker Optics offers state-of-the-art infrared and Raman spectrometers, microscopes and TD-NMR analyzers for art conservation and archaeometry studies.

Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a useful tool for identifying a variety of inorganic and organic compounds based on their selective absorption of radiation in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum fingerprint signature. The infrared spectrum of a sample can be matched with that of reference compounds using library search software.

In addition, both fourier transform (FT) and dispersive Raman spectroscopy are based on molecular vibrations that complements infrared spectroscopic analysis for art conservation and archeometry. Materials that cannot be identified with IR can be characterized with Raman, and vice versa. These techniques are also complementery to polarized light microscopy and X-ray based structural analysis.
More over, studies of historical buildings, frescoes, wooden architecture, and ancient books benefit from low resolution NMR analysis dealing with water absorption, porosity, and other properties associated with structural stability and conservation.