Laser ablation mass spectroscopy of nineteenth century daguerreotypes
- Life Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6125 (United States)
- International Museum of Photography and Film, George Eastman House, 900 East Ave., Rochester, New York 14607-2298 (United States)
- Boston Art Conservation, 60 Oak Square Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02135 (United States)
Laser desorption mass spectroscopy has been used to characterize both modern and {approx}150-year-old daguerreotypes. Such investigations are a necessary prelude to attempts to clean them of tarnish and other contaminants by laser ablation of the surface layers. Both positive- and negative-ion time-of-flight spectra were obtained following YAG laser ablation/desorption at 1064, 532, and 355 nm. Major peaks obtained from several daguerreotypes reveal expected elements from the substrate (Ag, Cu) as well as the developing (Hg) and gilding (Au) processes. Silver clusters (Ag{sub n}) may reflect surface desorption of molecules or, alternatively, aggregates formed in the ejection process. Silver sulfide molecules observed from old daguerreotypes are the signature of the tarnishing process. (c) 2000 Society for Applied Spectroscopy.
- OSTI ID:
- 20215275
- Journal Information:
- Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 53, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1999; ISSN 0003-7028
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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