Micro-X-Ray Fluorescence and the Old Masters Non-destructive in situ characterisation of the varnish of historical Low Countries stringed musical instruments
Applied Physics A, 107
Micro-analytical identification of the components of varnishes from South Italian historical musical instruments by PLM, ESEM-EDX, microFTIR, GC-MS, and Py-GC-MS
Abstract A multi-analytical investigation was carried out to study varnish micro-samples from historical stringed musical instruments from the collection of the “Vincenzo Bellini” Conservatory in Palermo (Italy). This paper reports on the results of the application of five micro-destructive techniques: optical microscopy analysis of cross-sections, micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry with thermochemolysis, and environmental scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis. The study provides microchemical information about the composition of the varnishes of the ins…