Can hyperspectral imaging be used to map corrosion products on outdoor bronze sculptures?

Abstract

The application of hyperspectral imaging in the field of cultural heritage investigation is growing rapidly. In this study, short wavelength infrared hyperspectral imaging (960–2500 nm) has been explored as a potential non-invasive technique for in situ mapping of corrosion products on bronze sculptures. Two corrosion products, brochantite and antlerite, commonly found on the surfaces of outdoor bronze monuments, were considered. Their spatial distribution was investigated on the surface of the bronze sculpture The Man with the Key by Auguste Rodin in Oslo. The results demonstrate that hyperspectral imaging combined with image analysis algorithms can display the distribution of the two corrosion products in different areas (unsheltered and partially sheltered) of the sculpture.