Early degradation mechanisms at the interface between acrylic grounds and oil paint films

This research was aimed to identify, localize and characterize degradation phenomena such as wrinkles, protrusions and cracks at their earliest stages of formation in contemporary oil paintings, even before they become visible to the naked eye, and with a special focus on the failure mechanisms taking place at the interface between oil paint films and acrylic-based grounds. Multiband imaging provided detailed information on the nature and distribution of degradation phenomena across the entire stratigraphy. These findings were then compared and validated at the morphological and elemental level by HR-FESEM-EDX. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy provided further insight into the organic components and potential degradation products on the surface, while GC-MS identified and quantified organic compounds, providing evidence of oxidation and hydrolysis reactions occurring in the bulk. This approach evidences how informative multiband imaging can be in providing valuable insights into degradation phenomena and in assisting in the design of the experimental strategy.