Abstract
Daylight fluorescent paints found widespread use in psychedelic and pop artwork in the 1960s- 80s. As these objects age, the complicated conservation issues that they present are apparent, and work is being done to understand the fading of daylight fluorescent (DF) dyes in order to better preserve artwork made using them. Rhodamine 3B and rhodamine 6G are commonly used in red, orange, and pink DF paints, so being able to quantify their degradation on both a visual and a molecular level is important. Past work has focused on quantifying the visual fading and decrease in fluorescence of rhodamine dyes, and photoproducts have been detected. This project focuses on dye degradation kinetics and production of photoproducts under UV-B light using UV-Visible spectroscopy. Both solution and paint samples were used to assess visual changes, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to separate photoproducts from dyes in solution. This work will help inform future conservation of artwork involving DF paints, pigments, and dyes.
Advisor
Sobeck, Sarah
Department
Chemistry
Recommended Citation
Partee, Rebecca, "What do you Rhoda-Mean? A Study of the Photostability and Degradation Kinetics of Two Rhodamines" (2024). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11212.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11212
Disciplines
Analytical Chemistry | Art and Materials Conservation | Physical Chemistry
Keywords
analytical chemistry, HPLC, UV-Vis, fluorescence, rhodamine, daylight fluorescent, DayGlo, physical chemistry, kinetics
Publication Date
2024
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2024 Rebecca Partee