title: Optimal Sample Preparation for the Analysis of Micrometric Heterogeneous Samples.
abstract: Precise microanalytical techniques are essential in many fields such as cultural heritage materials, showing complex layered microstructures containing a wide range of materials of diverse nature and hardness. Noninvasive sample manipulation and preparation is required to avoid, as much as possible, sample contamination, which may strongly limit the materials identification. The method proposed consists in the application of thin gold or carbon protecting layers before embedding the samples in synthetic resin for microtoming. The validity and optimal procedure is checked for those materials most often found on the surface of paintings: varnishes (natural resins and wax). An artwork sample is similarly prepared and analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), micro-infrared spectroscopy (μFTIR/μSR-FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (μSR-XRD) with synchrotron light.
authors.affiliation: †Dpt. d'Enginyeria Química, EPSEVG, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Víctor Balaguer s/n, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain.|∥Center for Research in Nano-Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Victòria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.affiliation: †Dpt. d'Enginyeria Química, EPSEVG, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Víctor Balaguer s/n, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain.|∥Center for Research in Nano-Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salvadó
authors.affiliation: †Dpt. d'Enginyeria Química, EPSEVG, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Víctor Balaguer s/n, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, Spain.|∥Center for Research in Nano-Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Butí
authors.affiliation: ‡Diamond Light Source, Harwell Campus, Chilton-Didcot OX11 0DE Oxon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gianfelice
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinque
authors.affiliation: ‡Diamond Light Source, Harwell Campus, Chilton-Didcot OX11 0DE Oxon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wehbe
authors.affiliation: §Dpt. Física, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Campus del Baix Llobregat, c. Esteve Terradas 8, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain.|∥Center for Research in Nano-Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Trinitat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pradell