Wertz, J. , France, D. and Quye, A. (2018) Characterisation of Turkey red oil by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy: Research on historical Turkey red dyeing for re-creation, conservation, and understanding. [Data Collection]
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Heritage conservation science is a valuable technique for the improved understanding and preservation of historical objects. Material analysis of heritage textiles and related materials provides information about polymer and colourant degradation, and contribute to improved conservation and display practices. The re-creation of materials following historical processes is useful to test analytical techniques in a field where ethical constraints often make sampling limited, and to identify potential age-related changes relative to a ‘fresh’ product. Despite the broad historical interest and industrial significance of Turkey red from the late 18th through the 19th c., little about the chemical complex of these unique textiles was understood in scientific terms. This research applied modern analysis by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to investigate the conclusions by 19th c. chemists that fatty acids were the important component of the oil treatment, a unique and vital aspect of the Turkey red dyeing process. The results show the Turkey red oil samples are composed of fatty acids, which tend to polymerise over time, and that modern commercial Turkey red oil has a similar composition to historical samples and a replica sample made following a 19th c. method. This information was used to form a hypothesis for the overall Turkey red complex on the fibre, and confirmed the experimental work of 19th c. chemists was theoretically accurate despite their lack of precise analytical techniques. This indicates a recreation and analysis approach is effective for studying heritage materials provided the historical practice for making the original object is considered.
| College / School: | College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > History of Art College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry |
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| Date Deposited: | 04 Apr 2018 14:04 |
| URI: | https://researchdata.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/597 |
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