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

技术摘要：本提案寻求获得傅里叶变换（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支架上的FT-Raman显微镜耦合，用于增强对复杂复合材料(a)微观水平和(b)原位的分子组成的探测，从而能够分析整个物体，而无需从独特的工件中移除珍贵样品。该仪器将为推进博物馆材料的组成、表面科学和降解化学方面的发现提供新的机会，同时也在解决长期保存、制造技术、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。具体来说，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，解决以下问题：(1)利用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进行超灵敏识别；(2)铬酸盐颜料在漆膜中的降解化学研究；(3)考古玉器表面退化现象；(4) 18 /19世纪瓷器本体和釉中存在的结晶或玻璃相的指纹；(5) 20世纪塑料、聚合物和生物材料的研究；(6)绘制历史与现代绘画复杂分层结构的构图。这些项目将促进学术研究人员、理工科学生、博物馆和艺术品保护专家之间的跨学科合作，并将通过博物馆的展览、出版物、会议和实验室参观等方式广泛传播。该计划将提供(1)通过本科生、研究生、博士后和科学教师的联合实习，提供具有广泛知识视野的创新研究机会，将各级研究和教育结合起来（作为学校RET计划的一部分）；(2)通过让学生参与对现实世界有重大影响的问题的科学活动，对物理科学学生的教育产生积极影响。【非技术摘要】本提案寻求支持购买一种先进的仪器（“傅立叶变换拉曼”），以协助芝加哥艺术学院对艺术作品的材料进行表征。该仪器能够快速、可靠地原位鉴定各种化合物，如颜料、染料、宝石、玻璃、聚合物和包含在艺术品中的生物聚合物，即无需从独特和不可替代的珍贵艺术品中取出样品。当样本确实需要从一个物体上取出时，因为它太脆弱，无法承受大量的处理，样本的大小通常在人类头发平均直径的十分之一的数量级上，因此肉眼几乎看不见。我们对人工制品组成的知识指导着关于保护处理和适当的展览和储存条件的重要决策。此外，敏感材料的鉴定对于博物馆藏品的正确归属和年代确定通常是必要的，并且对艺术家的技术以及古代和历史技术的研究有很大贡献。该仪器将汇集来自学术界和芝加哥地区博物馆的不同用户群体，其中包括大量参与物理科学的本科生和研究生，鼓励跨学科合作，使跨学科学习、发现和参与科学的积极影响，从而使我们能够为子孙后代保存和提高艺术作品的享受。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，这些对艺术家的材料选择以及这些材料如何随着年龄和环境的变化而变化的见解将直接传递给艺术史学家、保护人员和公众，这是芝加哥艺术学院使命的一部分，旨在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.