Artwork diagnostics: an onsite electrochemical monitoring method for early detection of coating failure

在化学系化学测量和成像项目的支持下，波特兰州立大学的Tami Clare教授和西雅图艺术博物馆（SAM）的研究人员将开发一种基于电化学阻抗谱（EIS）的分析方法，该方法将允许测量户外艺术品的涂层完整性。该项目旨在克服阻碍文化遗产科学界广泛使用环境影响报告书的重大障碍。最值得注意的是，电化学测试通常要求艺术品是导电的，并在艺术品的未涂覆区域连接到仪器上。克莱尔（PI Clare）和她的同事将制造并使用表面安装电极，这种电极可以从涂层表面快速附着（并干净地移除）。他们将研究表面电极策略，在实验室中使用加速老化的测试板确定特定的分析参数，并利用这些知识在华盛顿州西雅图的奥林匹克雕塑公园进行常规的现场测试。一种快速分析艺术品涂层的诊断工具将对文化遗产科学乃至其他领域产生革命性的影响。它有可能影响基础设施维护（建筑物和桥梁）的实践。在这个项目中探索的方法和电极的发展可转移到世界上任何博物馆，并将允许为特定的艺术品量身定制维护方案。该项目提供了一个独特的机会，让公众参与科学素养教育，并强调在文化遗产保护科学中使用现代分析工具。它将为希望在最先进的分析方法和文化遗产科学领域进行培训的学生提供极好的培训机会。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging program in the Division of Chemistry, Prof. Tami Clare of Portland State University and researchers at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) will develop an analytical methodology, based on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) that will permit the measurement of the coating integrity of outdoor artwork. The project aims to overcome significant barriers that prevented widespread use of EIS by the cultural heritage science community. Most notably, electrochemical testing typically requires artwork to be conductive and wired to instrumentation at an uncoated region of the artwork. PI Clare and her coworkers will fabricate and use surface-mounted electrodes that can be quickly attached (and cleanly removed) from the coating surfaces. They will investigate surface-electrode strategies, identify specific analytical parameters in the laboratory using test panels subjected to accelerated aging, and use this knowledge to conduct routine, onsite testing at the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, WA. A diagnostic tool for rapid analysis of coatings on works of art would be transformative to the field of cultural heritage science and beyond. It has the potential to impact the practice of infrastructure maintenance (buildings and bridges). Methods and electrode developments explored in this project are transferrable to any museum in the world and will allow for tailored maintenance regimens that are artwork-specific. The project provides a unique opportunity to engage the public in science literacy education, and highlight the use of modern analytical tools in the science of cultural heritage preservation. It will provide excellent training opportunities to students who wish to train in state of the art analytical methodology and in the field of cultural heritage science.