A5045958716- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Building materials and conservation
- Conservation Techniques and Studies
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Art, Technology, and Culture
- Laser Material Processing Techniques
- Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Mineralogy and Gemology Studies
- Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Nanotechnology research and applications
- Polymer Foaming and Composites
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Photopolymerization techniques and applications
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
Getty Conservation Institute
2021
Museum Conservation Institute
2013-2019
Smithsonian Institution
2013-2017
Smithsonian American Art Museum
2017
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
2001-2006
The broad palette of feather colours displayed by birds serves diverse biological functions, including communication and camouflage. Fossil feathers provide evidence that some avian colours, like black brown melanins, have existed for at least 160 million years (Myr), but no traces bright carotenoid pigments in ancient been reported. Insight into the evolutionary history plumage carotenoids may instead be gained from living species. We visually surveyed modern carotenoid-consistent (present...
Many animals extract, synthesize and refine chemicals for colour display, where a range of compounds structures can produce diverse palette. Feather colours, example, span the visible spectrum mostly result from pigments in five chemical classes (carotenoids, melanins, porphyrins, psittacofulvins metal oxides). However, pigment that generates yellow penguin feathers appears to represent sixth, poorly characterized class feather pigments. This class, here termed 'spheniscin', is displayed by...
Raman spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistics can identify the most abundant carotenoid in a feather without sample destruction.
Abstract Low-risk removal of embedded surface soiling on delicate heritage objects can require novel alternatives to traditional cleaning systems. Edvard Munch’s monumental Aula paintings (1911–16) have a long history exposure atmospheric pollution and campaigns that compromised the appearance condition these important artworks. Soiling from porous water-sensitive, unvarnished oil continues be major conservation challenge. This paper presents approach results research into effect efficiency...
Objects manufactured from cellulose acetate comprise one of the most problematic groups plastic in collections Smithsonian Institution's National Museum American History (NMAH). To understand better degradation, a ‘salesman's sample kit’ ‘Lumarith’ brand, injection-molded, color samples, by Celluloid Company early twentieth century and now NMAH collection, was studied using minimally invasive analytical techniques at Conservation Institute (MCI). The kit includes 49 coupons that vary color,...
A novel, non‐invasive study of goggles, flight helmets, airplane windows, and canopies in Smithsonian collections is the first known large‐scale technical survey historic aviation plastics leverages world's largest air space collection as evidence materials technologies used to create transparent plastic objects early‐20th century. Transparent windows these artifacts were analyzed with Fourier transform portable dispersive Raman spectrometers identify polymers plasticizers present. The...
A white pigment found on a sub-set of polychromed wooden Andean ritual drinking cups called qeros has been characterized by X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy and Raman as consisting principally cristobalite (SiO2), anatase (TiO2), α-quartz (SiO2). This unexpected assemblage minerals is like that reportedly in an exposed titanium ore body southern Peru, area once part the Inka Empire. The close match color composition to offers possible candidate for geological source this...
Plastic polymers can be combined with additives that modify physical properties and stability of the material. However, biocompatibility those is not well known. The objective study was to characterize impact zinc stearate-a common additive-through development a novel three-dimensional (3-D) in vitro platform endometrial cells from domestic cats. Epithelial stromal adult uteri were isolated cultured medium supplemented 3% Matrigel for two weeks plastic tissue culture dishes had been...
The most common method chosen by artists, designers, and craftsmen to realize artworks objects with transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is bond pieces from premanufactured sheets using solvents or adhesives. This considered relatively easy use, however achieving bonds that are both strong can be difficult. Artifacts museum collections made bonding PMMA often exhibit a variety of defects failures not yet addressed in depth the conservation literature. Therefore, an international...
This volume brings together papers presented at âThe Age of Plastic: Ingenuity + Responsibility,â a Smithsonian symposium hosted by the Museum Conservation Institute on June 7â8, 2012. The event was conceived as cross-disciplinary exploration plastic technological material, cultural phenomenon, preservation challenge, and force environment. Writers, scientists, conservators, historians, filmmakers, designers, policy makers offer researched first-hand accounts from life in Plastic Age....
Abstract Raman microspectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique in cultural heritage. However, results are often compromised by luminescence interference and poor sensitivity. Surface‐enhanced spectroscopy (SERS) an alternative that can enhance the signal quench luminescence, but interaction of analyte metal substrate produces altered spectra. Shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced (SHINERS) promising modification SERS encases nanoparticles ultrathin inert shells. As consequence, it...
Fiber optic probes allow for in situ characterization of cultural heritage objects and analysis materials that are difficult to access. Positioning these is challenging terms focal distance, angle analysis, stability. Modifications improve control include stabilizing the probe against a stationary surface, typically mediated by tripod, or artifact itself with distance regulating sheath fixes point at object surface. The first makes system less portable, while second eliminates depth...
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Lasers can induce subtle and not so changes in material structure. We have found that certain pigments undergo chemical crystallographic concomitant color shifts. Minerals the related may experience a loss of hydroxyl groups or other reordering. The organic component skeletal, keratinaceous, cellulosic materials be pyrolized, ablated, etched. Polymers discolor, structural weakening, volatilized. A few these processes been investigated with regards to on ivory bone, selected removal dye-based...