NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF BALTIC AMBER: OPTICAL ANALYSIS OF MACRO-AND MICROSTRUCTURE

Subject of Research. We propose a solution to the problem of nondestructive testing formacro- and microstructure of Baltic amber by optical analysis. The considered method provides for high-quality characteristics of materials and amber-made products. Method. The proposed approach was based on the analysis of fluorescence spectra using the “Fluorat-02-Panorama” analyzer. Microstructure study was carried out using Leica DMLM confocal microscope with a resolution less than 1 μm included in Renishaw InVia Reflex laboratory equipment. For macrostructure study, we proposed “Regula” 4305M/MH universal video spectral comparator with “Regula” 100X viewing magnifier. Samples of processed and unprocessed amber from the Palmniken Deposit (Kaliningrad, Russian Federation) with different transparency were studied. Main Results. The fluorescence spectra of Baltic amber with different transparency are presented. It is found that the less transparent samples are characterized by lower fluorescence intensity. We make it clear that the fluorescence spectra of transparent amber with transparency up to 75 % have the form of a wide cascade band with three peaks at the peak of intensity in the range of 650–800 nm. It is noted that the qualitative color characteristics of amber fluorescence have an additive character. It is shown that the destruction of amber can reveal internal and external defects, establish the degree of transparency and distribution of opaque areas in the source material and products made of it. Practical Relevance. The proposed method may be of interest in the field of materials science, research related to identification processes, processing of manufacturing amber-made products. The performed research can be used in the synthesis of high-molecular compounds, in the study of a wide class of organic materials and in the design of organic light emitting diodes.