Abstract
Recently, ultrafast lasers exhibiting high peak powers and extremely short pulse durations have created a new paradigm in materials processing. The precision and minimal thermal damage provided by ultrafast lasers in the machining of metals and dielectrics also suggests a novel application in obtaining precise cross-sections of fragile, combustible paint layers in artwork and cultural heritage property. Cross-sections of paint and other decorative layers on artwork provide critical information into its history and authenticity. However, the current methodology which uses a scalpel to obtain a cross-section can cause further damage, including crumbling, delamination, and paint compression. Here, we demonstrate the ability to make controlled cross-sections of paint layers with a femtosecond pulsed laser, with minimal damage to the surrounding artwork. The femtosecond laser cutting overcomes challenges such as fragile paint disintegrating under scalpel pressure, or oxidation by the continuous-wave (CW) laser. Variations in laser power and translational speed of the laser while cutting exhibit different benefits for cross-section sampling. The use of femtosecond lasers in studying artwork also presents new possibilities in analyzing, sampling, and cleaning of artwork with minimal destructive effects.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, ultrashort pulsed lasers have introduced new methods to material processing and machining [1]
In order to understand the femtosecond laser cutting process of the paint layers, we investigate the effects of the XY translational speed and input laser power on sample 2
We present controlled cutting of cross-sections of fragile paint layers with femtosecond pulsed
Summary
Over the past few decades, ultrashort pulsed lasers have introduced new methods to material processing and machining [1]. The high precision, reduction of damage to surrounding material, and the minimization of thermal effects suggests another novel application of femtosecond laser processing—cutting through fragile paint layers in valuable artwork and cultural artifacts to obtain cross-sections. In the process of taking cross-sections of the artwork itself, such wavelength selectivity is not an option, and CW lasers risk oxidative damage to the surrounding areas, though they may overcome some of the challenges afforded by a scalpel treatment. Femtosecond pulsed lasers offer the possibility of cutting cross-sections of paint layers with minimal damage to surrounding artwork due to its inherent reliance on high peak power and non-thermal effects to cut through a material. We demonstrate the ability to take cross-sections of a range of paint types using a femtosecond pulsed laser to cut through paint layers with limited to no damage to the surrounding artworks. Our work shows that the femtosecond laser processing of fragile paint layers opens new possibilities in analyzing, sampling, and cleaning fragile valuable artwork and cultural property with minimal destructive effects
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