Study of the degradation of beeswax taken from a real artefact

Abstract

Abstract This study is devoted to the statue of St. Ursula from the depositary to the Slovak National Museum–Cervený Kameň Castle. It is a heavily damaged, slightly under life-size seated female statue from the 2nd half of 19th century. The artefact is very heterogeneous and degraded. The wax parts have been examined with the aim of detecting and quantifying degradation products using FTIR spectroscopy, Py - GC/MS analysis and DSC measurement. The results obtained were compared with the degradation studies from available literary sources. The most important achievement is that the results support the theory of sublimation of n-alkanes from beeswax during ageing. The degradation mechanisms taking part during ageing are hydrolysis and oxidation. The suggested methods of accelerated ageing could be a suitable simulation of natural ageing. The experimental methods employed are complementary and enable to follow the progress of beeswax degradation.