LABORATORY: CNR SCITEC

 

NAME OF THE INSTRUMENT

Portable spectrometer ALPHA-R Bruker

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Reflection FT-IR spectroscopy is widely used in the field of heritage science for the characterization and identification of organic and inorganic materials. Being a vibrational molecular spectroscopic technique, it provides information concerning the functional groups constituting the molecules ultimately aiding a molecular identification of unlimited materials under exam. The mid-FTIR range is particularly adapt for the recognition of inorganic materials (with some limitations from metal oxides) as well as synthetic and natural organic materials. This technique can provide information concerning any surface contaminations, alterations and products/processes of degrade. The NIR range, collected simultaneously, has also become an increasingly useful analytical tool by providing signals that are characteristic of infrared combination and overtone bands which have very low absorption coefficients. This region provides distinctive features regarding both the chemical composition of organic and inorganic compounds. As the NIR radiation is particularly penetrating, it can for example typically pass through paint layers and reach the ground layer of paintings providing information of pigments and binders alike.

 

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

The compact Bruker Optics ALPHA-R spectrometer collects infrared radiation reflected from a surface located at1cm distance. This instrument is equipped with a Globar infrared radiation source, a Michelson interferometer (RockSolid(TM)) modified to work in any environmental condition and spatial orientation and a DLaTGS detector. External reflection mode works with an angle of incidence of light at approximately 20°. The instrument weighs 7 kg and has dimensions of 20x30x12 cm.3. It is equipped with a USB high resolution video camera which permits the exact point of analysis to be visualized and monitored. This instrument can be efficiently placed on a table to effectuate analyses and moved vertically using a manual lift to gain roughly 50cm (or other); it be mounted on its specific tripod permitting an easier accessibility to the object under study to a maximum height of ca.2m (with the instrument for horizonal analyses with milimetric positioning) or 2.5m (with the instrument for vertical analyses e.g ceiling) Wheels can be added to facilitate gross movements of the tripod over an extensive area. Analyses can be acquired on a scaffold where the instrument can safely arrive to 1cm from the surface under investigation.

 

Referent
Francesca Rosi francesca.rosi@cnr.it

 

Download the full sheet