Abstract
AbstractThe paint coatings of three energy generators from the 20th‐century powerplant at Levada de Tomar, Portugal, were investigated using micro‐Raman and micro‐X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. This multi‐analytical approach was used to identify the colouring agents, thus providing a chronological chromatic pallet and allowing to infer on the use of the three energy generators. Together with traditional pigments like Prussian blue, red iron oxide, and carbon black, pigments used in industrial areas like copper phthalocyanine and toluidine red were identified as colouring agents. Complex paint systems of the oldest equipment (1924) were revealed as well as maintenance procedures of the equipment that worked during a longer time (1944–1990). Powdery carbon black layers, resulting from incomplete hydrocarbon combustion and present between metallic substrates and coating layers, suggested the inexistence of paint coatings replacement after the powerplant shutdown. The identification of magnetite as a corrosion product of iron alloy substrate revealed that corrosion developed after the engine shutdown and not during the operation period. The results obtained highlight the potentialities of scientific‐based approach and Raman spectroscopy to the industrial heritage study, an emergent cultural area.
Highlights
Industrial heritage (IH) comprises objects, equipment, and installations that are material evidence of the industry history and technology development.[1]
Based on the potential of the analytical characterisation of IH paint coatings and the scarcity of studies regarding the subject, this study presents an approach to its investigation grounded on the case study of three energy generators from the 20thcentury powerplant at the Levada de Tomar, Portugal
The energy generators of the powerplant at Levada de Tomar, Portugal, are representative of the historical industry of electricity production. The characterisation of their paint coatings allowed increasing knowledge on the colouring agents used in industrial context in the early 20th-century
Summary
Industrial heritage (IH) comprises objects, equipment, and installations that are material evidence of the industry history and technology development.[1]. Based on the potential of the analytical characterisation of IH paint coatings and the scarcity of studies regarding the subject, this study presents an approach to its investigation grounded on the case study of three energy generators from the 20thcentury powerplant at the Levada de Tomar, Portugal. In this approach, different paint coatings were analysed to identify the pigments used as colouring agents and to investigate possible changes on the use of those pigments in different engines from different time periods. These recommendations appear mainly in early 21st-century, a non-standard colour code could have existed before
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