insiTUMlab. Analytical infrastructure for non-destructive in-situ studies of Cultural Heritage

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Analytical Chemistry
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 492717225

The overall aim of our planned research is the use of cutting-edge non-destructive, mobile, versatile and complementary technologies for the complete non-invasive material characterization, documentation and monitoring of architectural surfaces and work of art directly on site. The insiTUMlab core facility will collaborate with internal/TUM partners and external stakeholders for a thoughtful safeguard of our regional and national past and culture. An extensive and symbiotic collaboration among experimental sciences, the humanities, the conservation sector, environmental and information sciences will contribute to outstanding discoveries in the study of the materials of the past, to create an exhaustive documentation, and to formulate proper conservation and/or restoration strategies with the mission to preserve mankind’s cultural monuments and masterpieces for future generations. The new research infrastructure (RI) will offer state-of-the-art complementary technologies to those used by the different institutions in Munich, Bavaria and Germany. It will focus on research and development of new methodologies, which may enable the collaboration partners and users in introducing innovative analytical procedures to their analysis protocols/projects and the conservation practice. Our proposed research will advance the state-of-the-art by providing a novel and robust analytical tool for in-situ non-invasive identification and mapping of both organic and inorganic compounds/materials. We will be optimizing a macroscale multimodal spectral-imaging unit combining Hyperspectral reflectance imaging spectroscopy (HIS, two cameras covering a spectral range Vis-NIR-SWIR from 400 to 2500 nm) and Macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) with a high-resolution 3D microscope for the in-situ documentation, material characterization and mapping of artworks and architectural surfaces. The multimodal imaging unit will be capable of acquiring both, elemental (MA-XRF) and molecular mappings (HIS). The combination of chemical mappings and high magnification images (3D microscope) will be key for the analysis of the micro-heterogeneity of the surface analyzed and the accurate documentation of its physical features, e.g., colour, roughness, etc. This information will finally allow the correct interpretation of the chemical mappings. The hyperspectral imaging system was financed with funds granted by the Major instrumentation program of the DFG. The Macro X-Ray- fluorescence Imaging system has recently been acquired using the resources of TUM. The new RI will be the necessary next step to make the instrumentation available to a larger number of users through a regulated framework.

• DFG Programme: Core Facilities
• Major Instrumentation: Handheld Raman spectrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1840 Raman-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Application Partner: Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen München; Doerner-Institut
• Participating Institution: Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen München; Doerner-Institut
• Leader: Professor Dr. Thomas Danzl