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In Situ Unilateral 1H-NMR Studies of the Interaction Between Lead White Pigments and Collagen-Based Binders

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Abstract

The lead white pigment, 2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2, is thought to play a critical role in the degradation of paint in illuminated manuscripts. Cracking, flaking, and separation of paint films containing lead white on parchment and other works of art have been reported, and have been attributed to the interaction of the pigment with the binding media. A previous study by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed lead white to induce a change in the state of hydration of protein-based binders, though the mechanism of this process is still not well understood. In this work, we apply in situ 1H unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to explore the nature of the interaction between lead white and collagen-based binders while at the same time we evaluate the feasibility of applying unilateral 1H-NMR to assess the condition of the paint in medieval-illuminated manuscripts and to follow up the effectiveness of consolidation treatments. Carr, Purcell, Meiboom, and Gill (CPMG) measurements reveal that the addition of lead white to binders derived from collagen, such as bone, rabbit skin or fish glues, increases the T 2eff relaxation constant of these binders. This effect is more pronounced at low relative humidity. The increase in T 2eff suggests that the pigment induces a change in the protein that leads to the formation of more mobile structures, such as peptide fragments, or the partial unfolding of the rigid collagen triple helical structure to a more mobile random coil. The presence of large random coil domains in a collagen-based film has been associated with a lower mechanical strength of the film and therefore with its likeliness to flake.

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Acknowledgments

This work was possible thanks to the funding of the Alfred. P. Sloan Foundation that supported the purchase of the NMR MOUSE®, as well as by funding provided by the Kress Foundation, and the National Science Foundation (no. CHE-0957586). We are grateful to Boris Itin, from the New York Structural Biology Center, Lindsey Tyne, Cyndi O’ Hern, Megan Welchel, Pratt Institute alumnae and Amelia Catalano and Jennifer Alfonson, Pratt Institute’s students for their assistance in this study. We are also grateful to Julie Arslanoglu, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art for helpful comments and discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Science, Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11205, USA

    Eleonora Del Federico, Cindie Kehlet & Konstantin Ulrich

  2. Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave, New York, NY, 10028, USA

    Silvia A. Centeno

  3. Paper Conservator, 105 West 72nd Street Apt. 2A, New York, NY, 10023, USA

    Akiko Yamazaki-Kleps

  4. Chemistry Department, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Alexej Jerschow

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  1. Eleonora Del Federico
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  2. Silvia A. Centeno
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  3. Cindie Kehlet
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  4. Konstantin Ulrich
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  5. Akiko Yamazaki-Kleps
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  6. Alexej Jerschow
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Correspondence to Eleonora Del Federico.

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Del Federico, E., Centeno, S.A., Kehlet, C. et al. In Situ Unilateral 1H-NMR Studies of the Interaction Between Lead White Pigments and Collagen-Based Binders. Appl Magn Reson 42, 363–376 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00723-011-0302-9

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