Identification of changes in the surface of textiles subjected to plasma chemical treatment using attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

<p>Plasma chemical oxidation has been proposed as a “nondestructive” method for preparing samples from archaeological materials for radiocarbon dating using accelerator mass spectrometry. However, the chemical effects of low-temperature, low-pressure plasma discharges on fragile archaeological materials are not understood. It is believed that reactions only occur at the surface of the treated samples. Therefore, we have used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance sampling (ATR-FTIR) to examine changes in the chemical nature of the surface of representative modern and archaeological samples upon plasma treatment. Samples that were treated with destructive wet chemical methods, e.g., treatment with sodium hydroxide solution, were compared to plasma-treated samples, as well. This work will help to clarify the efficacy of plasma treatments on archaeological materials to prepare samples for radiocarbon dating and as an alternate, less destructive, method for removing surface contamination.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Kirkland, Joslyn Diana

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ruth Ann Armitage, Ph.D., Chair
• Krishnaswamy Rengan, Ph.D.
• Ross Nord, Ph.D.

• Archaeological chemistry Methodology
• Plasma chemistry
• Fourier transform spectroscopy
• Chemistry

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/252

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1251