Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral), "The characterization of acrylic painting materials and implications for their use, conservation, and stability" -- University of London, 1997.

"The bulk of the analytical work presented in this book was carried out at the Tate Gallery and Birkbeck College, University of London, from 1992-1997, with funding from the Leverhulme Trust in the United Kingdom." --Acknowledgments.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [191]-200) and index.

The chemistry of modern paints -- Overview of analytical methods for the identification of modern painting materials -- Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry -- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy -- Direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry -- Analysis in practice.

Although oil remains an important binding medium in artists' paints, today's synthetic resins are being used with increasing frequency. This was true during much of the twentieth century, when artists such as David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jackson Pollock, and Pablo Picasso used commercial or industrial paints based on synthetic resins. The growing popularity of synthetic resin materials carries important implications for the conservation, preservation, and treatment of modern art. This volume outlines the techniques that are currently employed to analyze the synthetic resins used in modern painting materials, such as pyrolysis-gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, and direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry. For each technique, results are given for standard samples of the principal classes of synthetic binding media, various pigments and extenders, tube paint formulations, and microscopic paint fragments taken from actual works of art. Primarily intended for conservation scientists, conservators, researchers, and students of conservation, this book will also be of interest to other museum professionals.