Analytical and computational study of three coptic icons in Saint Mercurius Monastery, Egypt

Three wooden Coptic icons located at Saint Mercurius Monastery in Tamooh, Giza, Egypt were comprehensively investigated in order to determine the possible causes of their deterioration. Samples from every paint used in each icon were collected spanning from the outermost varnish layer down to the ground layer. Investigation was carried out using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). For interaction between the icon layers DFT calculations at B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) level were conducted in order to study the effect of humidity on the reactivity of the binder material and its possible role in the deterioration of the icons.