Chemical, morphological and chromatic behavior of mural paintings under Er:YAG laser irradiation

Several pigments (malachite CuCO3⋅Cu(OH)2, azurite 2CuCO3⋅Cu(OH)2, yellow ochre (goethite α-FeOOH, gypsum CaSO4⋅2H2O), St. John’s white CaCO3 formed from slaked lime) and respective mural paintings specimens were subjected to the free-running Er:YAG laser radiation in order to study their damage thresholds, in a broad range of laser fluences, both in dry and wet conditions. The specimens’ damage thresholds were evaluated by spectroscopic methods, colorimetric measurements and microscopic observation. The pigments containing –OH groups were found to be more sensitive than St. John’s white; hence the most sensitive paint layers in dry conditions are those containing malachite, azurite (both 1.3 J/cm2) and yellow ochre (2.5 J/cm2) as compared to the ones containing St. John’s white (15.2 J/cm2). The presence of wetting agents (w.a.) attenuated the pigments chemical alteration. The damage thresholds of all the paint layers, in presence of w.a., were found to be around 2.5 J/cm2. The alteration was caused by thermo-mechanical damage and by binding medium ablation of a fresco and a secco prepared specimens, respectively.