Cultural Heritage Materials: an XPS Approach

The continuous demand for new analytical methods in studies relating to art and archaeology has prompted researchers to investigate the possible applications of a variety of non-conventional and innovative analytical techniques. In this book, the authors describe several interesting applications of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in order to understand in greater detail the chemical phenomena which are present on the surface of archeological and artistic objects which have been studied over the last ten years. After a preliminary discussion on the potentialities and limitations of XPS in this fascinating research field, a series of case studies on different kinds of art crafts is reported. The use of XPS, in monitoring the efficiency and the damage of restoring techniques on the surfaces of several masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s David and the S. Marco Basilica (Venice) mosaics, is also critically discussed.