A non-invasive investigation of Limoges enamels using both Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and spectral imaging: a pilot study

摘要

This paper investigates the use of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Short-wave Infrared (SWIR) spectralimaging to study the deterioration of a Limoges enamel panel. Limoges enamels are formed of glass layers applied on ametal substrate and are prone to ‘glass disease’. However, the level of deterioration in Limoges enamels is generallydifficult to assess visually. In this study, SWIR was used to produce a hydration level map of the enamel, which wascoupled with virtual OCT cross-sections. The study shows a good correlation between levels of hydration and structuraldamage over the enamel panel. Hydration mapping allows visualisation of structural damage across the entire enamel inone image.