3D Synchrotron x-ray microtomography of paint samples

Ferreira, Ester S. B.; Boon, Jaap J.; van der Horst, Jerre; Scherrer, Nadim; Marone, Federica; Stampanoni, Marco (2009). 3D Synchrotron x-ray microtomography of paint samples Proceedings of SPIE, 7391, 73910L. 10.1117/12.827511

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Synchrotron based X-ray microtomography is a novel way to examine paint samples. The three dimensional distribution of pigment particles, binding media and their deterioration products as well as other features such as voids, are made visible in their original context through a computing environment without the need of physical sectioning. This avoids manipulation related artefacts. Experiments on paint chips (approximately 500 micron wide) were done on the TOMCAT beam line (TOmographic Microscopy and Coherent rAdiology experimenTs) at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, CH, using an x-ray energy of up to 40 keV. The x-ray absorption images are obtained at a resolution of 350 nm. The 3D dataset was analysed using the commercial 3D imaging software Avizo 5.1. Through this process, virtual sections of the paint sample can be obtained in any orientation. One of the topics currently under research are the ground layers of paintings by Cuno Amiet (18681961), one of the most important Swiss painters of classical modernism, whose early work is currently the focus of research at the Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK-ISEA). This technique gives access to information such as sample surface morphology, porosity, particle size distribution and even particle identification. In the case of calcium carbonate grounds for example, features like microfossils present in natural chalks, can be reconstructed and their species identified, thus potentially providing information towards the mineral origin. One further elegant feature of this technique is that a target section can be selected within the 3D data set, before exposing it to obtain chemical data. Virtual sections can then be compared with cross sections of the same samples made in the traditional way.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Bern Academy of the Arts Bern Academy of the Arts > Institute Materiality in Art and Culture Bern Academy of the Arts > HKB Teaching Bern Academy of the Arts > Institute Materiality in Art and Culture > Material analyses
Name:	Ferreira, Ester S. B.; Boon, Jaap J.; van der Horst, Jerre; Scherrer, Nadim0000-0002-6576-885X; Marone, Federica and Stampanoni, Marco
Subjects:	N Fine Arts > ND Painting
ISSN:	0277-786X
Language:	English
Submitter:	Nadim Scherrer
Date Deposited:	04 Mar 2020 14:10
Last Modified:	18 Dec 2020 13:28
Publisher DOI:	10.1117/12.827511
Related URLs:	Publisher
Web of Science ID:	000283713600020
Additional Information:	Notes: Bru38 Times Cited:2 Cited References Count:7 Proceedings of SPIE Date: 2009
Uncontrolled Keywords:	synchrotron microtomography 3d x-ray imaging cuno amiet paintings ground
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.8074
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/8074