Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s
Among the innovative materials used by 20th-century artists, polyurethane (PUR) has been shown to be highly unstable, and therefore artworks made of it are now in need of careful conservation strategies. This study presents a multi-analytical investigation of PUR foam scenic objects originally made...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/9/2111 |
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| author | Rosa Costantini Luca Nodari Jacopo La Nasa Francesca Modugno Lucia Bonasera Sara Rago Alfonso Zoleo Stefano Legnaioli Patrizia Tomasin |
| author_facet | Rosa Costantini Luca Nodari Jacopo La Nasa Francesca Modugno Lucia Bonasera Sara Rago Alfonso Zoleo Stefano Legnaioli Patrizia Tomasin |
| author_sort | Rosa Costantini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Among the innovative materials used by 20th-century artists, polyurethane (PUR) has been shown to be highly unstable, and therefore artworks made of it are now in need of careful conservation strategies. This study presents a multi-analytical investigation of PUR foam scenic objects originally made between the 1960s and 1970s during the Italian Arte Viva movement. The main components in the foam and additives were characterized through micro attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (μ-ATR-FTIR) and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Painted samples were further investigated through μ-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to define binders and pigments. The use of μ-ATR-FTIR in combination with evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) allowed the variable conditions of the artworks to be assessed and attained some insights into the chemical processes responsible for aging. At the same time, morphological changes due to the degradation phenomena were recorded through optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed characterization of the PUR foam and painting materials was helpful in attaining some insights into harmful environmental parameters for the artworks, thus informing preventive conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:08:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a0e1a23d728486ca0b61f2b5f53dc74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:08:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a0e1a23d728486ca0b61f2b5f53dc742023-11-17T23:35:23ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-04-01159211110.3390/polym15092111Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970sRosa Costantini0Luca Nodari1Jacopo La Nasa2Francesca Modugno3Lucia Bonasera4Sara Rago5Alfonso Zoleo6Stefano Legnaioli7Patrizia Tomasin8Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, ItalyInstitute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music, University of Padova, Piazza Capitaniato 7, 35139 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, ItalyInstitute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds, National Research Council, (ICCOM-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, ItalyInstitute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, (ICMATE-CNR), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, ItalyAmong the innovative materials used by 20th-century artists, polyurethane (PUR) has been shown to be highly unstable, and therefore artworks made of it are now in need of careful conservation strategies. This study presents a multi-analytical investigation of PUR foam scenic objects originally made between the 1960s and 1970s during the Italian Arte Viva movement. The main components in the foam and additives were characterized through micro attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (μ-ATR-FTIR) and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Painted samples were further investigated through μ-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to define binders and pigments. The use of μ-ATR-FTIR in combination with evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) allowed the variable conditions of the artworks to be assessed and attained some insights into the chemical processes responsible for aging. At the same time, morphological changes due to the degradation phenomena were recorded through optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed characterization of the PUR foam and painting materials was helpful in attaining some insights into harmful environmental parameters for the artworks, thus informing preventive conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/9/2111polyurethane foamμ-ATR-FTIRPy(cryo)-GC/MSEGA-MSperforming artworks |
| spellingShingle | Rosa Costantini Luca Nodari Jacopo La Nasa Francesca Modugno Lucia Bonasera Sara Rago Alfonso Zoleo Stefano Legnaioli Patrizia Tomasin Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s Polymers polyurethane foam μ-ATR-FTIR Py(cryo)-GC/MS EGA-MS performing artworks |
| title | Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s |
| title_full | Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s |
| title_fullStr | Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s |
| title_short | Preserving the Ephemeral: A Micro-Invasive Study on a Set of Polyurethane Scenic Objects from the 1960s and 1970s |
| title_sort | preserving the ephemeral a micro invasive study on a set of polyurethane scenic objects from the 1960s and 1970s |
| topic | polyurethane foam μ-ATR-FTIR Py(cryo)-GC/MS EGA-MS performing artworks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/9/2111 |
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