Several heritage systems have been studied using state-of-the-art synchrotron techniques developed by the Electrochemistry and Surface Analysis (ESA) group at Universiteit Gent, Belgium, and the Analytical Science Projects (ASP) group at Warwick University, UK [1-3]. Work was carried out on the XMaS and DUBBLE beamlines at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble. In this presentation we show how the eCell [4] (and associated control software) can be used to study the time-lapse corrosion of metallic materials of interest to conservators and curators. This includes: -The corrosion of silver by anthropogenic gases using a gas-flow setup; -Pinpointing specific bronze disease corrosion processes in water and air; -Lead corrosion when exposed to an oak-polluted environment. This work highlights the importance of techniques which monitor corrosion processes in situ. With reference to its importance for the museum community, it is possible gain further insights into degradation mechanisms by various environments to provide recommendations for threshold concentrations in museum environments and to test countermeasures. In order to address concerns regarding the need to expose samples to very high concentrations of deteriogen to get the timescale right for the synchrotron, a larger strategy is also presented which includes the design of a portable eCell for long-term in situ testing at standard environmental conditions. [1] R. Grayburn, M. Dowsett, M. De Keersmaecker, E. Westenbrink, J.A. Covington, J.B. Crawford, et al., Time-lapse synchrotron X-ray diffraction to monitor conservation coatings for heritage lead in atmospheres polluted with oak-emitted volatile organic compounds, Corrosion Science. 82 (2014) 280–289. [2] M. Dowsett, A. Adriaens, C. Martin, L. Bouchenoire, The Use of Synchrotron X-rays To Observe Copper Corrosion in Real Time, Analytical Chemistry. 84 (2012) 4866–4872. [3] R. Grayburn, M. Dowsett, M. Hand, P.-J. Sabbe, P. Thompson, A. Adriaens, Tracking the progression of bronze disease – A synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of nantokite hydrolysis, Corrosion Science. 91 (2015) 220–223 [4] M.G. Dowsett, A. Adriaens, Cell for simultaneous synchrotron radiation X-ray and electrochemical corrosion measurements on cultural heritage metals and other materials., Analytical Chemistry. 78 (2006) 3360–5.

Instrumentation for studying time-lapse in situ chemical change in heritage systems

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.