NOTES

. Since the submission of this paper, we have found that microtoming can be significantly improved by the use of glass knives or tungsten carbide blades rather than stainless steel. Glass knives and tungsten carbide blades can easily produce thin cross sections in the range of 2–10 μm. These blades also allow brittle materials and materials containing high amounts of inorganic components to be sliced with less crumbling. The sample of the finish from the Roentgen desk, discussed in this paper, was cut using a glass knife.

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SOURCES OF MATERIALS

Ward's Natural Science Establishment, 11850 E., Florence Ave., Santa Fe Springs, Calif. 90670–0567

Carolina Biological Supply Co., 2700 York Road, Burlington, N.C. 27215

AUTHOR INFORMATION

MICHELE R. DERRICK graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1979 with an M.S. in analytical chemistry. She joined the Getty Conservation Institute in 1983 and is currently an associate scientist. Her research involves the development of new methods for the characterization and identification of organic materials in cultural objects primarily using infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography. Address: Getty Conservation Institute, 4503 Glencoe Ave., Marina del Rey, Calif. 90292.

DUSAN C. STULIK graduated from Charles University (Prague, Czechoslovakia) with B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry. He obtained a Ph.D. in physics from the Czechoslovakia Academy of Sciences. He is currently head of the Analytical Section at the Getty Conservation Institute, where his research is in the application of modern scientific methods in conservation science. Address: Getty Conservation Institute, 4503 Glencoe Ave., Marina del Rey, Calif. 90292.

JAMES M. LANDRY is associate professor of chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Loyola Marymount University. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Xavier University and a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Miami University. He is currently on appointment as a senior fellow in the Scientific Program at the Getty Conservation Institute. His research interests include the use of infrared microspectroscopy in the analysis of artwork and cultural objects and the determination of volatile organic compounds given off in display and storage cases by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Address: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif. 90045.

STEVEN P. BOUFFARD received his B.S. in chemistry from Loyola Marymount University in 1990. He is currently a doctoral candidate in analytical chemistry at Miami University. His research interests involve analytical applications of infrared microspectroscopy. Address: Department of Chemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056.