Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Sensors to Cultural Heritage

Abstract

In recent years nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensors have been increasingly applied to investigate, characterize and monitor objects of cultural heritage interest. NMR is not confined to a few specific applications, but rather its use can be successfully extended to a wide number of different cultural heritage issues. A breakthrough has surely been the recent development of portable NMR sensors which can be applied in situ for non-destructive and non-invasive investigations. In this paper three studies illustrating the potential of NMR sensors in this field of research are reported.

Keywords

• unilateral NMR
• 13C-CPMAS
• paintings
• porous stones
• moisture detection
• non-invasive analysis
• non-destructive analysis
• cultural heritage