• A graph comparison of the black particles found in the adhesive of a World War II era aircraft to charcoal. The graph shows that the particles are likely not made from charcoal due to the characteristics of the analysis.
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    Conservators created this FTIR spectrum of the black particles found in the Horten Ho 229 V3 adhesive to determine if charcoal was a component of the aircraft. The spectrum shows clear peaks which is considered atypical for charcoal, as the material more commonly blocks infrared light without producing spectral bands. The FTIR spectrum suggests that rather than discrete particles of charcoal within the adhesive matrix we are finding oxidized, or very aged wood. 

  • A graph comparison of the black particles found in the adhesive of a World War II era aircraft to charcoal. The graph shows that the particles are likely not made from charcoal due to the characteristics of the analysis.

ID#:

WEB14764-2015

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Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

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