The state of conservation of painted surfaces in the presence of accelerated ageing processes monitored by use of FT-Raman spectroscopy and multivariate control charts

A new method has been developed for monitoring the degradation of paintings. Two inorganic pigments (ultramarine blue and red ochre) were blended with linseed oil and spread on canvas. Each canvas was subjected to simulated accelerated ageing in the presence of typical degradation agents (UV radiation and acidic solution). Periodically the painted surfaces were analysed by FT-Raman, to investigate the status of the surface. The data obtained were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA). Finally the Shewhart and cumulative sum control charts based on the relevant principal components (PC) and the so called scores monitoring and residuals tracking (SMART) charts were built. The method based on the use of PC to describe the process was found to enable identification of the presence of relevant modification occurring on the surface of the samples studied.