title: White spots on Smoke rings by Bruce Nauman: a case study on contemporary art conservation using microanalytical techniques.
abstract: The artwork "Smoke Rings: Two Concentric Tunnels, Non-Communicating" by Bruce Nauman represents a case study of corrosion of a black patina-coated Al-alloy contemporary artwork. The main concern over this artwork was the widespread presence of white spots on its surface. Alloy substrate, patina, and white spots were characterized by means of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Alloy substrate was identified as an aluminum alloy 6,000 series Al-Si-Mg. Patina's identified composition confirmed the documentation provided by the atelier. Concerning the white spots, zircon particles were found on patina surface as external elements.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculdade de Belas-Artes,da Universidade de Lisboa,Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes,1249-058 Lisboa,Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Cardeira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mafalda
authors.affiliation: 2Centro de Física Atómica,da Universidade de Lisboa,Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2,1649-003 Lisboa,Portugal.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Bettencourt
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: da Câmara
authors.affiliation: 3Mason Gross School of the Arts of the University of Rutgers,330 Livingston Ave,08901-8554 New Brunswick,USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Strzelec
authors.affiliation: 4Laboratório HERCULES,Universidade de Évora,Largo Marquês de Marialva 8,7000 Évora,Portugal.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.affiliation: 4Laboratório HERCULES,Universidade de Évora,Largo Marquês de Marialva 8,7000 Évora,Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mirão
authors.affiliation: 4Laboratório HERCULES,Universidade de Évora,Largo Marquês de Marialva 8,7000 Évora,Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.affiliation: 2Centro de Física Atómica,da Universidade de Lisboa,Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2,1649-003 Lisboa,Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Luísa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: 1Faculdade de Belas-Artes,da Universidade de Lisboa,Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes,1249-058 Lisboa,Portugal.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manso
keywords: micro-XRD