Contents Chapter 1 Introduction to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry 1 1.1 Gas chromatography 1 1.2 Mass spectrometry 1 1.3 The Components and functions of GC/MS 3 1.3.1 Ion source 3 1.3.2 Mass analyzer 3 1.3.3 Detector 4 1.4 Pyrolysis with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) 4 References 5 Chapter 2 Overview about the natural organic binding media used in artworks 6 2.1 Introduction 6 2.2 Oils as binding media 9 2.2.1 The identification of oils 9 2.2.2 The drying and degradation of oils as binding media 11 2.3 Proteinaceous materials as binding media 13 2.3.1 Structure of protein and amino acids 13 2.3.2 Techniques for protein analysis 13 2.3.3 Drying and degradation processes of proteinaceous binding media 15 2.4 Resins used in artworks 16 2.4.1 Diterpenic resins 18 2.4.2 Triterpenoid resin 20 2.5 Waxes 22 2.5.1 Waxes from animal origins 22 2.5.2 Waxes from plant origins 23 2.5.3 Waxes from mineral origins 23 2.5.4 The analytical techniques used for analysis of waxes 24 2.5.5 The alteration of waxes during ageing 24 2.6 Aims of this research 25 References 25 Chapter 3 The influence of different pigments to the degradation and the identification of oils as binding media in artworks 31 3.1 Introduction 31 3.1.1 The use of oils as binding medium 31 3.1.2 The effects of pigments on drying and degradation of oil binding media 33 3.2 The experiment part 34 3.2.1 Apparatus 34 3.2.2 The mock-ups 34 3.2.3 The accelerating settings 36 3.2.4 Sample preparation procedure for GC/MS analysis 36 3.2.5 Calibration of the fatty acids 36 3.3 Results and discussions 38 3.3.1 Analysis results for fresh oils and artificially aged samples 38 3.3.2 Investigation of the P/S ratio of paint samples with different pigment during the ageing process 39 3.3.3 Marker compounds and indicative ranges for degradation products (Su/A, A/P) 42 3.3.4 O/P ratios in mock-ups with different pigments during ageing process 44 3.3.5 Evaluating the absolute amounts of detectable fatty acids in mock-ups during ageing process 45 3.3.6 Analysis results from poppy seed oil and walnut oil 48 3.4 Discussions 49 References 50 3.5 Case study 52 3.5.1 Characterization of Tang Dynasty lamp oil remains by using pyrolysis gas chromatography and mass spectrometry 52 3.5.2 The identification of binding agent used in late Shang Dynasty turquoise-inlayed bronze objects excavated in Anyang 66 Chapter 4 The study of proteinaceous materials used in artworks 81 4.1 Introduction 81 4.2 Chosen methodology for this study 83 4.3 Mock-ups and accelerated ageing procedures 84 4.4 Chemicals 85 4.5 Experimental part 85 4.5.1 Analytical equipment and conditions 85 4.5.2 Derivatization procedure by using ECF 86 4.6 Results and discussions 88 4.6.1 Characterisation of un-pigmented mock-ups by GC/MS 88 4.6.2 Characterisation of UV3 aged mock-ups of whole egg as binder with different pigments 91 4.6.3 Characterisation of the lipid fraction of proteinaceous materials 91 4.7 Conclusions 93 Reference 94 4.8 Case study 95 4.8.1 Scientific investigation of the paint and adhesive materials used in the Western Han Dynasty polychromy terracotta army, Qingzhou, China 95 4.8.2 Scientific investigation of the materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty wall painting 108 4.8.3 Characterization of the materials used in Chinese ink sticks by pyrolysis- gas chromatography-mass spectrometry 124 4.8.4 Identification of the materials used in an Eastern Jin Chinese ink stick 136 Chapter 5 The identification of resins used in artworks and their chemical changes during ageing processes 147 5.1 Introduction 147 5.1.1 Mock-ups prepared in the Art History Museum, Vienna 148 5.1.2 Paint samples with mixed binding media 149 5.1.3 Samples from historic paintings 149 5.1.4 Artificial ageing experiments 149 5.2 Experiment part 149 5.2.1 Instrumental conditions 149 5.2.2 Sample preparation for GC/MS analysis 150 5.3 Results and discussions 150 5.3.1 Copal and sandarac resins 150 5.3.2 Baltic Amber 152 5.3.3 Mastic and dammar 154 5.3.4 Characterisation of samples with mixed binding media 156 5.3.5 Qualitative analysis: results and discussion 157 5.3.6 Investigating chemical changes of mixed binding media during ageing 161 5.3.7 Characterization of binding media from real paintings 164 5.4 Conclusions 167 References 168 5.5 Case study 169 5.5.1 The study of binding agents used to inlay turquoise onto bronze objects in Eastern Zhou Dynasty 169 5.5.2 The identification of the binding media in the Tang Dynasty Chinese wall painting by using Py-GC/MS and GC/MS techniques 177 Chapter 6 Study of the effects of pigments and ageing to the identification of waxes used in artworks 192 6.1 Introduction 192 6.2 Experimental part 193 6.2.1 Standards and reference samples 193 6.2.2 GC/MS analysis procedure after TMSH derivatization 194 6.2.3 Instrumental conditions 194 6.3 Results and discussions 195 6.3.1 Investigation of waxes of animal origin: beeswax and lanolin (wool wax) 195 6.3.2 Investigation of waxes of vegetal origin: carnauba wax and candelilla wax 197 6.3.3 Investigation of a mineral wax: montan wax 199 6.3.4 The effects of pigments and ageing to the identification of waxes 200 6.4 Analysis of samples from the Art History Museum, Vienna for wax constituents 206 6.4.1 Investigations on “N?chtliches Bankett” by W. Heimbach 206 6.4.2 Investigations on a “Portrait” by G.G. Savoldo (GG-2633) 208 6.5 Conclusion 210 References 210 6.6 Case study 211 6.6.1 Characterization of the residues in Han Dynasty bronze lamps by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry 211 Chapter 7 Study of organic materials in the lacquer objects 224 7.1 Introduction 224 7.2 The polymerization process of lacquer 225 7.3 Characterization of lacquer film by Py-GC/MS 226 7.4 The organic additives in lacquer objects 228 References 229 7.5 Case study 231 7.5.1 Analytical characterization of lacquer objects excavated from a Chu tomb in China 231 7.5.2 Characterization and quantitation study of ancient lacquer objects by NIR spectroscopy and THM-Py-GC/MS 251 Chapter 8 Analytical characterization of synthetic organic materials in contemporary art works and cultural heritage 268 8.1 Introduction 268 8.2 The state of art of the research 269 8.2.1 Analytical methods for chemical characterization of synthetic materials used in art 269 8.2.2 The chemistry of the main synthetic materials used in art works 271 8.3 Methodology 274 References 274 8.4 Case study 276 8.4.1 Py-GC/MS for the identification of modern synthetic materials used for conservation in Chinese wall paintings 276 8.4.2 Photochemical degradation study of polyvinyl acetate paints used in artworks by Py-GC/MS 283 8.4.3 A comparison study of alkyd resin used in art works by Py-GC/MS and GC/MS: the influence of aging 298 Afterword 316 Appendix:Author’s main publication list 318 Pictures