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pigmented colorants: dependence on media and time - Cornell ...

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ceptually appears as adding white to the sample, giving a faded appearance. Sev-<br />

eral other pigments experienced similar results, though not all pigments underwent<br />

changes during the experiment. In unprotected atmospheres (without the use of<br />

activated carb<strong>on</strong> filters) it would take three (outdoor) to six (indoor) years to<br />

accumulate a dose (c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>time</strong>s magnitude) of oz<strong>on</strong>e exposure from the<br />

atmospheric oz<strong>on</strong>e c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s measured <strong>and</strong> reported in the work. Pigment<br />

size is also a major factor influencing the surface area exposed to the air, which<br />

may influence the rate of reacti<strong>on</strong> with the chemical.<br />

Similarly, nitrogen dioxide is a comm<strong>on</strong> air pollutant formed in the atmosphere<br />

from the nitric oxide emissi<strong>on</strong>s from fuel combustible sources. Whitmore <strong>and</strong><br />

Cass found more than half of the natural organic pigment <str<strong>on</strong>g>colorants</str<strong>on</strong>g> studied had<br />

a significant color change ∆E >2 from exposure to 0.50 ppm NO2 in air for 12<br />

weeks [WC89]. A dose of this magnitude would be experienced inside an unpro-<br />

tected museum in a few years (2-6 years) in an urban setting. The procedure for<br />

the experiment was similar to that of the oz<strong>on</strong>e exposure, menti<strong>on</strong>ed previously.<br />

All of these chemical effects are cumulative <strong>and</strong> irreversible. In relati<strong>on</strong> to the<br />

durati<strong>on</strong> of a piece of artwork, these pigment changes occur rather quickly. Care<br />

must be taken to protect artwork from such harsh c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />

All in all, the appearance of color of <str<strong>on</strong>g>pigmented</str<strong>on</strong>g> materials in not c<strong>on</strong>stant <strong>and</strong><br />

can be the result of a number of different factors. Through the use of spectropho-<br />

tometers, <strong>on</strong>e can accurately measure theses changes over <strong>time</strong>. Through the use<br />

of mathematical predictive color mixing systems, such as Kubelka Munk theory,<br />

further changes can be predicted. Hopefully, this knowledge will minimize the risk<br />

of further deteriorati<strong>on</strong> of artwork for future generati<strong>on</strong>s. Equally enticing is the<br />

use of the data to travel back in <strong>time</strong> to see a painting in its original brilliance.<br />

135

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