title: Classification and identification of organic binding media in artworks by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and principal component analysis.
abstract: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique to study organic materials. However, in Cultural Heritage, since the sample under analysis is always a complicated matrix of several materials, data analysis performed through peak-by-peak comparisons of sample spectra with those of standard compounds is a tedious method that does not always provide good results. To overcome this problem, a chemometric model based on principal component analysis was developed to classify and identify organic binding media in artworks. The model allows the differentiation of five families of binders: drying oils, waxes, proteins, gums, and resins, taking into account the absorption bands in two characteristic spectral windows: C-H stretching and carbonyl band. This new methodology was applied in the characterization of binders in three kinds of artworks: papers of historical, archeological, and artistic value, easel paintings, and polychromed stone-based sculptures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, PO Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain. alfredo.sarmiento@ehu.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Alonso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivares
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez-Arkarazo
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Madariaga