1 art ’05 - 8th International Conference on "Non Destructive Investigations and Micronalysis for the Diagnostics and Conservation of the Cultural and Environmental Heritage." Lecce (Italy), May 15th - 19th, 2005 THE USE OF FTIR MICRO-ATR SPECTROSCOPY AND FTIR-MAPPING FOR THE SURFACE CHARACTERISATION OF BRONZE CORROSION PRODUCTS Rocco Mazzeo and Edith Joseph University of Bologna Diagnostic microchemistry and microscopy laboratory Via Tombesi dall’Ova, 55, 48100 RAVENNA (Italy) rocco.mazzeo@unibo.it , Fax: +39 0544 484503 Abstract The paper deals with the use of micro Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy and ATR mapping for the chemical characterization, corrosion behaviour and surface distribution of corrosion products present on bronze bars naturally aged in an outdoor marine environment as well as on cross-sections of samples collected from archaeological and historical bronze objects. Advantages and drawbacks of this technique are highlighted and discussed. ATR mapping allows the microphotographic documentation, mapping and surface distribuition of the identified chemical compounds on a wide variety of samples. ATR mapping may also play a crucial role in the non-destructive chemical characterization, behaviour and performance evaluation of protective coatings/treatments applied on outdoor exposed monumental bronzes.