• fibers
• cultural heritage
• Textile
• Py-GC/MS

The main purpose of this thesis project is the characterization of either natural and man-made fibers with spectroscopic and chromatographic analytical techniques. The adopted approach consists of a preventive non-destructive evaluation with Infrared Spectroscopy, followed by a more in-depth analysis with Evolved Gas Analysis-Mass Spectrometry (EGA-MS) and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). First, possible alteration in composition and/or polymeric structure of artificially aged reference material will be evaluated. Subsequently, the information obtained will be used to interpret the characteristics of high fashion samples collected to assess their degradation and possibly ascertain their causes, to inform both restoration and preventive conservation.