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Sol LeWitt, a pioneer of conceptual art, created during his career over 1350 wall drawings, including the Wall Drawing #736 (1993) at the Center for Contemporary Art Luigi Pecci in Prato (Prato, Italy). The painting, executed by Andrea Marescalchi and Antony Sansotta under LeWitt's instructions, features a grid of coloured rectangles obtained by overlapping different layers of inks. During a 2021 restoration by the Wall Paintings and Stuccoes Department of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Firenze, Italy), an in-depth investigation of the composition and the materials used by LeWitt's assistants in producing Wall Drawing #736 was performed. A multi-analytical approach entailing Raman spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array and high-resolution mass spectrometry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and pyrolysis coupled with GC–MS was applied. Our results revealed the use of animal glue, shellac resin, paraffin wax, linseed oil, and various organic pigments. The binder in the preparation layer was identified as poly(vinyl acetate), while poly(n-butyl methacrylate) was determined as a fixative. This research provided valuable insights into LeWitt's techniques. The acquired knowledge on the paint technique is highly relevant in supporting conservators in restoration and consolidating the many wall drawings produced exploiting the same technique all over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper will present and critically discuss the evolution of the calibration-free LIBS (CF-LIBS) method and some of its new applications that appeared since the last extensive review on the topic, which was published more than 10 years ago by the inventors of the technique. This will allow the interested researchers to catch up on the new trends of the method and the strategies that have been devised in the last decade for improving the analytical factors of merit of CF-LIBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a notable change has occurred in how street art murals are perceived by art history and the general public, with a growing recognition of their social and cultural significance and a new focus on preserving the most representative modern urban murals for future generations. An interesting case study is constituted by the "UBUNTU" mural (Ivan Pontevia and Daniele Castagnetti, Reggio Emilia, 2018), whose appearance has radically changed in a few years. Indeed, the intense and direct exposure to sunlight as well as the environmental and polluting agents have induced the bleaching and fading of the original highly fluorescent hues. To investigate the degradation processes that are occurring, five micro-samples were collected from different fluorescent-coloured areas and analysed by a combined approach based on µ-Raman and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Diode Array Detector and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS), and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The analytical protocol applied allowed us to disclose the painting materials used by the artist and fully characterise the ageing phenomena occurring in the mural that are possibly responsible for its colour ephemerality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of historical textile fragments belonging to the Guggenheim collection had been previously studied by FORS and IRR imaging. The need for further analysis emerged in order to get a better understanding of the applied dyes. Under this perspective, SERS measurements and false colour images (UVFC and IRFC) were acquired on selected samples dated back between the fifteenth and the eighteenth centuries and constituted by velvets, embossed velvets, brocades, brocatelles, damasks, lampasses, satins, gros and taffetas of Italian manufacture. The cross-checking of spectroscopic data allowed for confirming some of the results previously obtained, but in the majority of cases much more complex situations were found. On many occasions, SERS and FORS demonstrated their complementarity allowing for discovering the use of mixtures instead of single dye as previously assumed. In addition to indigotin, cochineal and tannins, already identified in the previous investigation, new data allowed for determining the presence of orcein, annatto, luteolin, quercetin and saffron. The FC images supported the obtained results but evidenced the need for the generation of a complete database of historical dyes employed with different dyeing procedures, substrates, mordants and as mixtures with different proportions. The multi-technique approach, involving both non-invasive and micro-invasive methods, also allowed for checking the compatibility of compounds with both the declared historical period and the origin of the investigated textile fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the innovative materials used by 20th-century artists, polyurethane (PUR) has been shown to be highly unstable, and therefore artworks made of it are now in need of careful conservation strategies. This study presents a multi-analytical investigation of PUR foam scenic objects originally made between the 1960s and 1970s during the Italian Arte Viva movement. The main components in the foam and additives were characterized through micro attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (μ-ATR-FTIR) and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Painted samples were further investigated through μ-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to define binders and pigments. The use of μ-ATR-FTIR in combination with evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) allowed the variable conditions of the artworks to be assessed and attained some insights into the chemical processes responsible for aging. At the same time, morphological changes due to the degradation phenomena were recorded through optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed characterization of the PUR foam and painting materials was helpful in attaining some insights into harmful environmental parameters for the artworks, thus informing preventive conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this paper will be to discuss the issues related to the determination of the limits of detection (LOD) in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analytical applications. The derivation of the commonly used '3-sigma over slope' rule and its evolution towards the new official definition recently adopted by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) will be illustrated. Methods for extending the calculation of the LOD to LIBS multivariate analysis will also be discussed, using as an example the detection of Cu traces in cast iron samples by LIBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saliva is an easily sampled matrix containing a variety of biochemical information, which can be correlated with the individual health status. The fast, straightforward analysis of saliva by vibrational (ATR-FTIR and Raman) spectroscopy is a good premise for large-scale preclinical studies to aid translation into clinics. In this work, the effects of saliva collection (spitting/swab) and processing (two different deproteinization procedures) were explored by principal component analysis (PCA) of ATR-FTIR and Raman data and by investigating the effects on the main saliva metabolites by reversed-phase chromatography (RPC-HPLC-DAD). Our results show that, depending on the bioanalytical information needed, special care must be taken when saliva is collected with swabs because the polymeric material significantly interacts with some saliva components. Moreover, the analysis of saliva before and after deproteinization by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy allows to obtain complementary biological information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The church of San Francesco del Prato in Parma (Italy) is a masterpiece of the Gothic style, dated back to the 13th century. However, its historical and monumental value could not be appreciated for a long time, especially due to the transformation of the building into a city jail. The recent restoration works brought back to light valuable frescos and wall paintings belonging to different periods. An in situ campaign was performed on the 15th-century wall paintings adorning the vault and the walls in the church apse, by using mobile Raman and X-ray fluorescence equipment. The characterization of the art pieces was further carried out with micro-Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses. Overall, a quick and thorough identification of the colours palette of the wall paintings was successfully obtained through the in situ measurements. Laboratory analyses corroborated the understanding of the techniques through the identification of pigments and binders. In addition, micro-Raman analyses highlighted the presence of degradation products. Interestingly, a pigment hierarchy has been noted in relation to the painted contents, enhancing the preciousness of holy figures and their distinctive details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several samples coming from the recently discovered (February 2019) Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age Chovdar necropolis in Azerbaijan were analysed using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. The analysis allowed a preliminary classification of the samples in eight groups based on their composition, obtained from the XRF spectra using the fundamental parameter method. A more detailed classification was then obtained using the graph clustering method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid identification of beached marine micro-plastics is essential for the determination of the source of pollution and for planning the most effective strategies for remediation. In this paper, we present the results obtained by applying the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique on a large sample of different kinds of plastics that can be found in a marine environment. The use of chemometric analytical tools allowed a rapid classification of the pellets with an accuracy greater than 80%. The LIBS spectrum and statistical tests proved their worth to quickly identify polymers, and in particular, to distinguish C-O from C-C backbone pellets, and PE from PP ones. In addition, the PCA analysis revealed a correlation between appearance (surface pellets roughness) and color (yellowing), as reported by other recent studies. The preliminary results on the analysis of metals accumulated on the surface of the pellets are also reported. The implication of these results is discussed in view of the possibility of frequent monitoring of the marine plastic pollution on the seacoast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Max Ernst was one of the most influential artists associated with both the Dada and Surrealist movements. However, until now, only few scientific studies have been devoted to his works. This paper presents the results of a multi-analytical investigation on six oil paintings, made between 1927 and 1942, belonging to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice (Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York). Through a combined art historical and scientific approach, this study aims at understanding Ernst's painting techniques, including frottage, grattage, dripping, and decalcomania, the used materials, and the state of conservation of the artworks. Non-invasive in situ investigations were performed by means of Vis–NIR multi-spectral imaging, X-ray fluorescence, external reflection FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Imaging analysis revealed important information about Ernst's painting methods while the other techniques provided useful information about the ground layer, the painting materials and the presence of alteration products. Ernst's palette discloses great freedom in his use of materials and evolution during the time. This investigation demonstrates that an integrated, non-invasive, diagnostic approach provides a thorough analysis of materials and execution techniques of Ernst' masterworks allowing an in-depth knowledge of his highly skilled work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectroscopy is an emerging tool in the research and diagnosis of different diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. In this work, blood serum samples collected from healthy controls and dementia patients were analysed by Raman spectroscopy to develop a classification model for the diagnosis of dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT). Raman spectra were processed by means of multivariate tools for multivariate analysis. Lower concentration levels of carotenoids were detected in blood serum from patients, which allowed for a good discrimination with respect to controls, such as 93% of correct predictions on the test set with random forest. We also hypothesize that carotenoid levels might be informative about the severity and progression of the disease, since the intensity of carotenoid signals decreased from the early stage to more severe patients. These encouraging results suggest the possibility to use Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of alternative biofluids (e.g. saliva) and the unobtrusive diagnosis of other neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of digital humanities, it is increasingly necessary to develop and validate virtual reality tools that are capable of combining various scientific data in a virtualized context providing also access and user friendly consultation of online repositories. This paper reports the main aspects of the implementation of a virtual reality tool integrated with an online repository for storing 3D models, metadata and chemical analyses related to different sectors of digital humanities. The virtual reality software, developed for the Oculus Quest 2 hardware, is called PROTEUS and allows for seamless transition from the macroscopic world of digital humanities to the microscopic world of molecular sciences. The paper illustrates, by means of some case studies, the performances of this innovative tool that permits the researcher to understand and manipulate objects, to test hypotheses and to seek meaningful results, visualising the metadata while changing the parameters of the simulation in a dynamic and interactive way. This represents also a significant step forward in the democratisation of science, thanks to an user-friendly and immersive access to advanced scientific algorithms, which allow the natural perception of structural and topological features of the underlying molecular and supra-molecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gandharan art developed in the Himalayan area in the early centuries CE. It has been investigated mostly from an iconographic point of view, missing, until very recently, a systematic technical investigation of materials and techniques. Recently our team began performing chemical analyses of the traces of the polychromy originally covering statues, reliefs and architectural decorations, to discover the ancient painting techniques and artistic technologies. This paper presents the results of the analytical investigation (optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) of pigments, ground layers and binders of a new group of samples taken from stucco architectural decorations (2nd–3rd/4th centuries CE). The samples were collected directly at an archaeological site in the Swat Valley, ensuring the exact knowledge of their stratigraphic provenance, as well as the absence of any restoration treatment applied prior sampling. The results are discussed in the wider context of Gandharan polychromy investigated so far by our team, as found in sculptures and architectural decorations preserved in museums (in Italy and France) and in archaeological excavations in Pakistan. The aim of this research is to shed light on the materials and techniques of this Buddhist ancient art from this region and on the influences exerted on it from Eastern and Western artistic traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development of a non-invasive multi-analytical approach for the study of glazing and decoration materials used in French pottery from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The considerable commercial success of this art makes this time frame of particular interest as it led, among others, to a general modernisation of the production processes and materials to satisfy the increased demand and the flourishing trade of potteries: new ceramic bodies, alternative glaze formulation and a wider range of materials became available. Considering the pristine conservation state of the twenty-one selected samples (deriving from six factories or manufacturers in four different production areas in France), a multi-technique, non-invasive and non-deliberatively destructive analytical approach was chosen for the characterisation of glazes, pigments and other superficial materials. Each object was firstly observed with optical microscopy and subsequently underwent elemental composition analyses such as MA-XRF (macro X-ray fluorescence) and IBA (ion beam analyses) at the INFN LABEC Laboratory in Florence. For the identification of some of the compounds present in coloured enamels, a selection of the objects was analysed with Raman spectroscopy at the ICCOM CNR in Pisa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-analytical study was carried out on an ancient Egyptian limestone stele with red figures and hieroglyphs (S. 6145) coming from the village of Deir el-Medina and belonging to the collection of the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). With the support of a multidisciplinary team, a project for the preservation and conservation of this stele provided an opportunity to carry out a very detailed study of the object. Petrographic and mineralogical analysis led to the characterization and dating of the limestone, and ultrasonic tests were of great help in shedding light on the state of preservation of the stele, as a preliminary to planning conservation treatment. The chemical nature of the red pigment was investigated by non-invasive spectroscopic analyses. Multispectral imaging and statistical image processing improved the readability of the hieroglyphs, whose preservation ranged from heavily compromised to almost completely invisible, revealing some signs that had previously not been visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging systems are the basic tools of the trade for art historians, conservators, and archaeologists, when they are called to document the results of their work. However, photo cameras and imaging systems are also powerful research tools. These systems, in fact, are inherently portable and give the possibility of acquiring high-resolution, spectrally resolved digital images that can be elaborated exploiting the most advanced algorithms of information science. In this contribution, we will outline the many possibilities opened by the available instrumentation and techniques, to suggest the use of image analysis as the first step of the diagnostic process in Cultural Heritage conservation and study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report the results of the in situ application of micro‐Raman spectroscopy to the analysis of two historic painted objects: a 15th‐century illuminated manuscript and a late 16th‐century portrait miniature. Both objects were unexpectedly found to contain calomel (Hg2Cl2), intentionally used as a white pigment. Calomel was a widespread and popular medicine until it fell out of use at the end of the 19th century due to its toxicity, and a material called 'mercury white' is referred to in 16th‐century technical literature on painting. However, although calomel has been recognised in the past as a degradation product of cinnabar in both wall and easel paintings, its deliberate use as a pigment on cultural heritage objects has only been documented recently in white areas painted on 17th‐century South American objects. The present study describes the first ever verified use of calomel as a white pigment on European works of art, both of which predate its documented use in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we report and critically discuss the application of LIBS for the determination of plasma-emission fundamental parameters, such as transition probabilities, oscillator strengths, Stark broadening and shifts, of the emission lines in the spectrum. The knowledge of these parameters is of paramount importance for plasma diagnostics or for quantitative analysis using calibration-free LIBS methods. In the first part, the theoretical basis of the analysis is laid down; in the second part, the main experimental and analytical approaches for the determination by LIBS of the spectral line spectroscopic parameters are presented. In the conclusion, the future perspectives of this kind of analysis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common synthetic carbon-based black pigments can be divided into three main groups on the basis of the material used for their production: bone blacks, vine blacks and lampblacks. This work reports on the physicochemical characterization of the three commercial pigments purchased from Kremer Pigmente (Germany) and Zecchi (Italy) by means of a multi-analytical approach, which included thermoanalytical (thermogravimetry, thermogravimetry coupled with FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry) and spectroscopic techniques (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction). Combining the results obtained from this multi-analytical approach, qualitative and quantitative conclusions are drawn for the first time. Lampblacks are mainly composed of amorphous carbon. In vine black (Kremer), amorphous carbon and cellulose pyrolysis by-products are the main constituents. In bone blacks and vine black (Zecchi), carbonaceous materials are minor components. Hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate are the main constituents of bone blacks, and iron and magnesium oxides are the main constituents of vine black (Zecchi). Results from this multi-analytical study on the composition of such widespread pigments can provide valuable information in the decision-making process for restorers and conservators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the stones used as building materials in the centre of Pisa during the Middle Age. Most of the stones are quarried from the nearby mountains, Monte Pisano and Monti d'Oltre Serchio, but there are also other ones, coming from Apuan Alps, Elba Island, western Tuscan coast, and from other quarries opened in the Western Mediterranean area. Our goal is to enrich the classic concept of street photography by inserting, in an interpretative context, the analysis and the observation of the geoenvironment in which we are immersed, daily, for the journey home-office, home-school or just for a simple walk. The tools we have are the eyes, the light and an instrument: the camera. Five stops along a city route allow to describe the main types of stones that have been used to construct and ornate the buildings since the 10th and 11th centuries, when Pisa acquired its traditional fame as one of the four historical Maritime Republics of Italy. Monte Pisano marble is the most important stone in the medieval phase of construction of the city of Pisa, often used together with black limestones to give the typical decorative alternate bands, black and white, of the Pisan Romanesque style. Other types of stones were also used, such as Quartzites, Agnano breccia, Panchina, Macigno sandstone as well as Apuan marble, granitoid rocks from Elba Island and Sardinia, and some rocks from ancient quarries of the western Mediterranean area, such as precious marbles from Greece and Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a critical review on the applications of the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in cultural heritage and archaeology. The strategies used by the groups involved in this kind of research for the analysis of the typical materials of interest (metals, pigments, pottery, glass, etc.) are discussed in detail, as well as the use of LIBS in combination with other techniques (LIBS and Raman, LIBS and XRF, and LIBS and MS). Specific applications of LIBS as a support for cultural heritage restoration and the application of the technique for the analysis of underwater objects are presented in separate sessions. In conclusion, new trends of LIBS for cultural heritage and archaeology (micro-LIBS analysis, 3D elemental imaging, and surface- and nanoparticle-enhanced LIBS) are introduced and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micro-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (µ-LIBS) technique allows performing fast elemental analyses, without sample preparation and thus making it specifically useful in the analysis of the composition of ancient potsherd. The µ-LIBS instrument is equipped with a microscope and a scanning system allowing to realize small craters (about Ø = 25 µm) in order to obtain detailed hyperspectral surfaces maps (up to a maximum size of one square centimeter). The data are processed by Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) method to visualize in 2D representations allowing significant information on the technological features of ceramic samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the provenance of marbles used as architectural elements (bases, shafts and capitals of columns) for building the internal spiral staircase of the medieval bell tower of St. Nicholas Church at Pisa, Italy. Accordingly, the 45 collected marble samples have been analysed by optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and mass spectroscopy for carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratio analysis; additionally, SEM-EDS analysis have been performed to complement data about accessory minerals. By comparison with literature data on the main sources of the white Mediterranean marbles used in ancient times, the results show that the analysed samples are mainly white crystalline marbles from Carrara (Italy) and, subordinately, from other Tuscan and Eastern Mediterranean quarrying areas. In fact, Mt. Pisano and Campiglia M.ma (Tuscany, Italy) and Marmara (Turkey), Paros, Mt. Penteli, Thasos (Greece) are minor sources. The other coloured stones identified on the strength of their macroscopic features are quartzites from Mt. Pisano area and granitoids from Sardinia and Island of Elba (Italy). Occasionally, a very limited number of architectonical elements made up of Acquabona limestone from Rosignano Marittimo (Livorno, Italy), red limestone with ammonites (the so-called 'Rosso Ammonitico') and black limestone belonging to the Tuscan Nappe sequence, outcropping at northwest of Pisa in the nearby Monti d'Oltre Serchio area, are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 'hybrid' method is proposed for the quantitative analysis of materials by LIBS, combining the precision of the calibration-free LIBS (CF-LIBS) algorithm with the quickness of artificial neural networks. The method allows the precise determination of the samples' composition even in the presence of relatively large laser fluctuations and matrix effects. To show the strength and robustness of this approach, a number of synthetic LIBS spectra of Cu-Ni binary alloys with different composition were computer-simulated, in correspondence of different plasma temperatures, electron number densities and ablated mass. The CF-LIBS/ANN approach here proposed demonstrated to be capable, after appropriate training, of 'learning' the basic physical relations between the experimentally measured line intensities and the plasma parameters. Because of that the composition of the sample can be correctly determined, as in CF-LIBS measurements, but in a much shorter time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of 83 coins, found in the archeological excavations of the ancient Roman city of Tridentum (Trento, Italy), was studied for the determination of their composition, finalized to their classification and cataloging. The coins, mainly made of copper-based alloys, were minted between the republican period (II century BC) and the last decades of the western empire (V century AD). The X-Ray Fluorescence archaeometric analysis has allowed a revision of the typological classification of the coins through the identification of six broad groups, each one characterized by a peculiar composition of the coins in the group. A tentative assignation of all the unreadable coins to one of the groups identified was proposed, in a way that could suggest also a possible dating of these coins. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limits of detection have been studied for several elements in aluminium and steel alloys, at atmospheric pressure in air, by use of the single and collinear double-pulse configurations of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. For this purpose, calibration plots were constructed for Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Cu using a set of certified aluminium alloy samples and a set of certified steel samples. The investigation included optimization of the experimental conditions to furnish the best signal-to-noise ratio. Inter-pulse delay, gate width, and acquisition delay were studied. The detection limits for the elements of interest were calculated under the optimum conditions for the double-pulse configuration and compared with those obtained under the optimum conditions for single-pulse configuration. Significantly improved detection limits were achieved, for all the elements investigated, and in both aluminium and steel, by use of the double-pulse configuration. The experimental findings are discussed in terms of the measured plasma conditions (particle and electron density, and temperature). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve archaeological copper objects from the burial site of “Fontino” cave, near Grosseto, (around 2500–2000 B.C.) were analysed using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Qualitative results and a preliminary study of the samples’ composition are reported and used to make a quantitative estimate; based on these results, the samples were classified using principal components statistical analysis. The perspectives of using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for archaeometric analysis are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exfoliated black phosphorus (bP) embedded into a polymer is preserved from oxidation, is stable to air, light, and humidity, and can be further processed into devices without degrading its properties. Most of the examples of exfoliated bP/polymer composites involve a single polymer matrix. Herein, we report the preparation of biphasic polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (50/50 wt.%) composites containing few-layer black phosphorus (fl-bP) (0.6–1 wt.%) produced by sonicated-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation. Micro-Raman spectroscopy confirmed the integrity of fl-bP, while scanning electron microscopy evidenced the influence of fl-bP into the coalescence of polymeric phases. Furthermore, the topography of thin films analyzed by atomic force microscopy confirmed the effect of fl-bP into the PS dewetting, and the selective PS etching of thin films revealed the presence of fl-bP flakes. Finally, a block copolymer/fl-bP composite (1.2 wt.%) was prepared via in situ reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization by sonication-assisted exfoliation of bP into styrene. For this sample, 31P solid-state NMR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed an excellent preservation of bP structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the abundance and distribution of Anthropogenic Marine Debris (AMD) on the coastal areas of the northern Tyrrhenian coast are still scarce. The objective of this study is to characterize, in terms of size, color, morphology and polymeric nature, the Large Microplastics (LMPs), i.e., plastic objects within 1 and 5 mm, sampled on three beaches located within the coastal macro-area of the Pelagos Sanctuary, an international protected zone in the north-western Mediterranean. The beaches have similar morphological characteristics but different degrees of urbanization. LMPs were sampled seasonally for one year. The polymeric nature of a representative subsample of the collected LMPs was investigated using a portable Raman instrument, to assess the feasibility of in situ characterization. In this study, 26,486 items were sorted by typology (Expanded Polystyrene-EPS, fragments, and resin pellets), size, and for fragments and resin pellets, also by color and chemical nature. Statistical data on the quantity, density, type, spatial distribution, and seasonality of the sampled LMPs are presented. Differences in LMP abundance and composition were detected among sites. A seasonality trend emerges from our statistical analysis, depending on both LMP typology and urbanization degrees of the beaches. Our data do not show the existence of a relationship between the size of the investigated MPs and their color, while they suggest that the type of polymer influences the degree of fragmentation. This underlines the need to further investigate the mechanisms leading to the production and dispersion of MPs in coastal areas, taking into account both the urbanization of the beach, and therefore the possible sources of input, and the different types of MPs. Finally, a Raman portable instrument proved to be a valuable aid in performing in situ polymeric characterization of LMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of a plasma by a pulsed laser beam in solids, liquids or gas is often associated with the generation of a strong shock wave, which can be studied and interpreted in the framework of the theory of strong explosion. In this review, we will briefly present a theoretical interpretation of the physical mechanisms of laser-generated shock waves. After that, we will discuss how the study of the dynamics of the laser-induced shock wave can be used for obtaining useful information about the laser–target interaction (for example, the energy delivered by the laser on the target material) or on the physical properties of the target itself (hardness). Finally, we will focus the discussion on how the laser-induced shock wave can be exploited in analytical applications of Laser-Induced Plasmas as, for example, in Double-Pulse Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]