The compact Bruker Optics ALPHA-R spectrometer collects infrared radiation reflected from a surface located at 1cm 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 cm3. It is equipped with a USB high resolution video camera which permits the exact point of analysis to be visualized and monitored. It exploits a near/mid-FTIRrange from 7500 cm-1 -350 cm-1 and a spectral resolution of 4 cm-1 with a spatial resolution better than 7 mm2. 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 it's 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.
Potential Results
It is highly effective for the identification and characterization of inorganic and organic constituents in heritage science materials. Precise information can be collected regarding surface contaminations, original materials and non, alterations and products of degrade as well as monitoring of cleaning and conservation techniques. Data can be used to provide knowledge for suitable and appropriate conservation and restoration strategies.