Mestric, Valentina; Pucić, Irina; Desnica, Vladan; Šatović, Domagoj; Marušić, Katarina (2024) Impact of gamma irradiation on protein-based binders in historical painting media. Dyes and Pigments, 235 . ISSN 0143-7208
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Abstract
The use of radiation technology for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage is highly effective due to its numerous advantages over alternative methods. While ionizing radiation is widely accepted for decontaminating wood-based objects, its application to other materials, such as paintings, is approached with caution due to limited studies and knowledge in this field. This study aims to evaluate the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation on materials commonly used as paint layers in artworks. Two widely used protein-based binders, casein and animal glue, were examined—both on their own and in combination with lead white pigment. The binders were exposed to radiation doses typically used for treating insects and fungi in cultural heritage artefacts (2, 7, 10 kGy), as well as much higher doses (25, 100 kGy), at two different dose rates (0.3 and 27.7 kGy/h). Changes caused by radiation were assessed using CIE colorimetry and ATR-FTIR spectrometry. The results showed that the radiation doses commonly used for decontamination did not cause noticeable or unacceptable changes in the tested materials. However, at higher doses, the type of binder influenced the changes observed. Animal glue demonstrated greater resistance to radiation than casein. Dose rate also played a role, with differing effects at low and high doses. The most significant changes occurred at the highest dose (100 kGy), particularly at the higher dose rate. These findings suggest that ionizing radiation is safe for decontaminating painted layers.
| Item Type: | Article | ||||||||||||
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Gamma irradiation; Painted layer; Binders; Animal glue; Casein; Lead white | ||||||||||||
| Subjects: | NATURAL SCIENCES NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry FIELD OF ART FIELD OF ART > Applied Art INTERDISCIPLINARY AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELDS OF ART |
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| Divisions: | Division of Materials Chemistry | ||||||||||||
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| Depositing User: | Dr Katarina Marušić | ||||||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 14 Nov 2025 09:39 | ||||||||||||
| URI: | http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/10209 | ||||||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.dyepig.2024.112606 |
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