MRI: Acquisition of an FT-Raman Spectrometer for Interdisciplinary Art Materials Research and Education

本提案寻求对购买傅里叶变换(FT)拉曼光谱仪的支持，以协助芝加哥艺术学院科学实验室分析艺术品的材料。光谱仪通过光纤与安装在定制铰接式支架上的FT-拉曼显微镜耦合，以增强对复杂复合材料的分子组成的探测(A)在微观水平上和(B)在现场，从而能够分析整个物体，而不需要从独特的文物中取出珍贵的样品。该仪器将为促进博物馆材料的组成、表面科学和降解化学的发现提供新的机会，同时也在解决长期保存、制作技术、古代贸易路线、来源和年代等艺术史和保护问题方面发挥关键作用。具体地说，该仪器将被芝加哥艺术学院、西北大学和芝加哥地区博物馆的科学家用于跨学科项目，解决(1)用FT-拉曼和表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)对用作艺术家颜料和着色剂的天然有机染料的超灵敏鉴定；(2)漆膜中铬酸盐颜料的降解化学研究；(3)考古玉器的表面退化现象；(4)18/19世纪瓷器胎体和釉面中结晶或玻璃相的指纹；(5)对20世纪塑料、聚合物和生物材料的研究；(6)历史和现代绘画复杂分层结构的构图。这些计划将促进学术研究人员、理工科学生与博物馆和艺术保护专家之间强有力的跨学科合作，并将通过博物馆的展览、出版物、会议和参观实验室广泛传播。该计划将提供(1)具有广阔智力视角的创新研究机会，通过本科生、研究生、博士后和科学教师的联合实习(作为NU RET计划的一部分)整合各级研究和教育，以及(2)通过让物理学生参与应用于现实世界中对社会有重大影响的问题的科学活动，对他们的教育产生积极影响。非技术性特征本建议寻求支持获得先进的仪器(“傅立叶变换拉曼”)，以帮助芝加哥艺术学院表征艺术作品的材料。该仪器能够现场快速、可靠地鉴定艺术品中包含的各种化合物--如颜料、染料、宝石、玻璃、聚合物和生物聚合物，即无需从独一无二和不可替代的贵重艺术品中取出样品。当样品确实需要从物体上取出时，因为它太脆弱，无法进行广泛的处理，样品的大小通常是普通人类头发直径的十分之一，因此肉眼几乎看不见。我们对文物组成的知识指导着关于保护处理以及适当的展览和存储条件的重要决策此外，敏感材料的识别对于博物馆收藏品的正确归属和年代测定往往是必要的，并对艺术家的技术以及古代和历史技术的研究做出了很大贡献。该仪器将把来自学术界和芝加哥地区博物馆的不同用户群体聚集在一起，本科生和研究生大量参与物理科学，鼓励跨学科合作，促进跨学科学习、发现和参与科学对我们保护和提高后代欣赏艺术作品的能力的积极影响。对艺术家的材料选择以及这些材料如何随年龄和环境暴露而变化的见解将通过展览、公开展示、会议、画廊讲座、出版物和参观保护实验室直接传递给艺术历史学家、保护人员和普通公众，这是芝加哥艺术学院使命的一部分，目的是教育公众了解博物馆的学术和科学研究活动。

TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis proposal seeks support for the acquisition of a Fourier Transform (FT) Raman spectrometer to assist the Scientific Laboratory of the Art Institute of Chicago in the analysis of materials of works of art. The spectrometer is coupled via fiber optics with a FT-Raman microscope installed on a custom-made articulated mount for enhanced probing of the molecular composition of complex composite materials (a) at the micro-scale level and (b) in situ, enabling analysis of entire objects, without removal of precious samples from unique artifacts. The instrument will provide new opportunities for advancing discoveries on the composition, surface science and degradation chemistry of Museum materials, while also playing a key role in addressing art historical and conservation questions on long-term preservation, technology of fabrication, trade routes in antiquity, provenance and dating.Specifically the instrument will be used by scientists at the Art Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Chicago area Museums for cross-disciplinary projects addressing (1) the ultra-sensitive identification of natural organic dyes used as artists' pigments and colorants with FT-Raman and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS); (2) the study of the degradation chemistry of chromate pigments in paint films; (3) surface degradation phenomena on archaeological jades; (4) the fingerprinting of crystalline or glassy phases present in the body and glazes of 18th/19th century porcelains; (5) the study of 20th century plastics, polymers and biomaterials; and (6) the mapping of the composition of complex layered structures of historic and modern paintings. The projects will foster strong interdisciplinary collaboration between academic researchers, science and engineering students and Museum and art conservation experts and will be broadly disseminated through the Museum's exhibition, publications, conferences and tours of the laboratories. The program will offer (1) innovative research opportunities with a broad intellectual perspective, integrating research and education at all levels through joint internships for undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral students, and science teachers (as part of NU's RET program) and (2) will positively influence the education of students of the physical sciences by engaging them in scientific activities applied to real world problems of great impact to the society.NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis proposal seeks support for the acquisition of an advanced instrument ("Fourier Transform Raman") to assist the Art Institute of Chicago in the characterization of materials of works of art. This instrument is capable of rapidly and reliably identifying a wide array of compounds - such as pigments, dyes, precious stones, glasses, polymers and biopolymers incorporated in works of art- in situ, i.e. without having to remove sample from valuable works of art that are unique and irreplaceable. When a sample does need to be removed from an object, because it is too fragile to sustain extensive handling, the sample size is typically on the order of magnitude of one tenth of the diameter of an average human hair, thus nearly invisible to the naked eye. Our knowledge of artifact composition guides important decisions regarding conservation treatments and appropriate exhibit and storage conditions Furthermore, sensitive materials identification is often necessary for the proper attribution and dating of museum collections, and greatly contributes to the study of artists' techniques as well as ancient and historic technologies. The instrument will bring together a diverse group of users from Academia and Chicago area Museums with significant involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in the physical sciences, encouraging collaborations across disciplines and enabling interdisciplinary learning, discovery and engagement in the positive impact of science on our ability to preserve and enhance the enjoyment of works of art for future generations. The insights gained into artists' material choices and how these materials change with age and exposure to the environment will be directly transferred to art historians, conservators and the general public through exhibitions, public displays, conferences, gallery talks, publications and tours of the conservation laboratories as part of the Art Institute of Chicago mission to educate the public on the scholarly and scientific research activities of the Museum.