This paper focuses on the application of non-invasive techniques to study a peculiar object, an alchemical codex completely made of lead stored at the State Archive of Florence.1 The sheets of the codex appeared entirely covered by thick and heterogeneous corrosion patinas for which a restoration was planned for their removal. This activity was supported by analytical investigations to characterise the materials that made up the patinas using non-invasive techniques. The codex pages were initially documented with imaging techniques. Subsequently, spectroscopic data were acquired on each sheet using spot analytical techniques: Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (TR FT-IR), Fibre Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The identification of deterioration compounds has been extremely useful for the conservator to deal with the removal of dangerous and disfiguring patinas.
Non-invasive techniques applied to the alchemical codex of the State Archive of Florence / Bartolozzi, G.; Bracci, S.; Cantisani, C.; Iannaccone, R.; Magrini, D.; Picollo, M.. - In: SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY. - ISSN 1386-1425. - 240:(2020), p. 118562. [10.1016/j.saa.2020.118562]
Non-invasive techniques applied to the alchemical codex of the State Archive of Florence
Iannaccone R.;
2020-01-01
Abstract
This paper focuses on the application of non-invasive techniques to study a peculiar object, an alchemical codex completely made of lead stored at the State Archive of Florence.1 The sheets of the codex appeared entirely covered by thick and heterogeneous corrosion patinas for which a restoration was planned for their removal. This activity was supported by analytical investigations to characterise the materials that made up the patinas using non-invasive techniques. The codex pages were initially documented with imaging techniques. Subsequently, spectroscopic data were acquired on each sheet using spot analytical techniques: Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (TR FT-IR), Fibre Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The identification of deterioration compounds has been extremely useful for the conservator to deal with the removal of dangerous and disfiguring patinas.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
