Raman microscopy for the identification of pearlescent pigments in acrylic works of art

Eva Mariasole Angelin; Sara Babo; Joana Lia Ferreira; Maria João Melo

doi:10.1002/jrs.5431

Raman microscopy for the identification of pearlescent pigments in acrylic works of art

Eva Mariasole Angelin, Sara Babo, Joana Lia Ferreira, Maria João Melo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this work, pearlescent pigments used to create luster in poly(methyl methacrylate) artworks by Ângelo de Sousa (1938-2011) were identified in an effort to predict their possible degradation. Raman microscopy was used, in situ, to identify plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride. Unequivocal characterization of plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride was made possible by comparison with reference materials, synthesized for this study. The vibrational pattern (infrared and Raman) of both pigments is discussed. Based on their Raman ν₁ stretching mode at around 1050 cm^-1, we show that it is possible to differentiate between the two basic lead carbonates that are both reported in the literature to be pearlescent: hydrocerussite Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ and plumbonacrite Pb₅(CO₃)₃O(OH)₂. Raman microscopy was thus, for the first time, used as fingerprint tool for the molecular identification of pearlescent pigments in plastic materials. Based on these findings, better-informed conservation strategies for the acrylic sculptures will be developed.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
Volume	50
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.5431
Publication status	Published - Feb 2019

Keywords

Bismuth oxychloride
Pearlescent pigments
Plastic artworks
Plumbonacrite
Raman microscopy

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10.1002/jrs.5431Licence: CC BY-NC

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title = "Raman microscopy for the identification of pearlescent pigments in acrylic works of art",

abstract = "In this work, pearlescent pigments used to create luster in poly(methyl methacrylate) artworks by {\^A}ngelo de Sousa (1938-2011) were identified in an effort to predict their possible degradation. Raman microscopy was used, in situ, to identify plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride. Unequivocal characterization of plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride was made possible by comparison with reference materials, synthesized for this study. The vibrational pattern (infrared and Raman) of both pigments is discussed. Based on their Raman ν1 stretching mode at around 1050 cm-1, we show that it is possible to differentiate between the two basic lead carbonates that are both reported in the literature to be pearlescent: hydrocerussite Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 and plumbonacrite Pb5(CO3)3O(OH)2. Raman microscopy was thus, for the first time, used as fingerprint tool for the molecular identification of pearlescent pigments in plastic materials. Based on these findings, better-informed conservation strategies for the acrylic sculptures will be developed.",

keywords = "Bismuth oxychloride, Pearlescent pigments, Plastic artworks, Plumbonacrite, Raman microscopy",

author = "Angelin, {Eva Mariasole} and Sara Babo and Ferreira, {Joana Lia} and Melo, {Maria Jo{\~a}o}",

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AU - Angelin, Eva Mariasole

AU - Babo, Sara

AU - Ferreira, Joana Lia

AU - Melo, Maria João

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N2 - In this work, pearlescent pigments used to create luster in poly(methyl methacrylate) artworks by Ângelo de Sousa (1938-2011) were identified in an effort to predict their possible degradation. Raman microscopy was used, in situ, to identify plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride. Unequivocal characterization of plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride was made possible by comparison with reference materials, synthesized for this study. The vibrational pattern (infrared and Raman) of both pigments is discussed. Based on their Raman ν1 stretching mode at around 1050 cm-1, we show that it is possible to differentiate between the two basic lead carbonates that are both reported in the literature to be pearlescent: hydrocerussite Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 and plumbonacrite Pb5(CO3)3O(OH)2. Raman microscopy was thus, for the first time, used as fingerprint tool for the molecular identification of pearlescent pigments in plastic materials. Based on these findings, better-informed conservation strategies for the acrylic sculptures will be developed.

AB - In this work, pearlescent pigments used to create luster in poly(methyl methacrylate) artworks by Ângelo de Sousa (1938-2011) were identified in an effort to predict their possible degradation. Raman microscopy was used, in situ, to identify plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride. Unequivocal characterization of plumbonacrite and bismuth oxychloride was made possible by comparison with reference materials, synthesized for this study. The vibrational pattern (infrared and Raman) of both pigments is discussed. Based on their Raman ν1 stretching mode at around 1050 cm-1, we show that it is possible to differentiate between the two basic lead carbonates that are both reported in the literature to be pearlescent: hydrocerussite Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 and plumbonacrite Pb5(CO3)3O(OH)2. Raman microscopy was thus, for the first time, used as fingerprint tool for the molecular identification of pearlescent pigments in plastic materials. Based on these findings, better-informed conservation strategies for the acrylic sculptures will be developed.

KW - Bismuth oxychloride

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KW - Plastic artworks

KW - Plumbonacrite

KW - Raman microscopy

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Raman microscopy for the identification of pearlescent pigments in acrylic works of art

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Keywords

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