Jared King

Ultrafast Two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for Applications in the Curing of Paint 

The drying of paint films is a long and complex process, with chemical changes continuing within the paint long after the paint feels dry. These chemical changes (e.g. molecular cross-linking) alter physical properties of paint (e.g. rigidity). Conservationists and conservation scientists are interested in these physical properties, but characterizing the physical properties of paint films in a non-invasive way is challenging, particularly for large or immobile paintings. Single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a technique that uses small, portable instrumentation and allows us to look at objects like paintings both on and below the surface by characterizing their physio-chemical properties with the benefit of never having to touch the painting. I will apply a new experiment type in single-sided NMR, called "ultrafast," to characterize curing properties of molecular cross-linking in paint films and paintings. I will approach this problem in two ways: first by implementing a new experiment to directly measure molecular cross-linking in paint films, and then through applying this method (among others) to evaluate cross-linking in paint films over time.

All William & Mary Honors Fellowships fundraising supports the Charles Center Honors Fellowships Fund. Direct support for individual undergraduate research projects is distributed by the Roy R. Charles Center for Academic Excellence. To learn more about Honors Fellowships, please visit our About page. If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page.