Analytical Methods for the Environmental Degradation of Cultural Heritage
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course provides an introduction to instrumental techniques of chemical analysis and structural characterization of cultural heritage materials, focusing on the environmental effects on such materials and paying particular attention to experimental aspects and data interpretation. The aim of the course is therefore to make the student understand what compositional and structural information can be obtained from this type of investigations on the original materials and their degradation products.
Expected learning outcomes
Ability to interpret and use analytical information from the findings and possibility of intervention for conservative purposes.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Module prof. Bruni: Atmospherical pollutants and their effect on cultural heritage. Summary of the most important techniques for the analysis of environmental degradation of materials. Degradation of stone, mortars, natural and synthetic dyes and plastics. Effect of indoor pollutants on materials in museums and exhibitions.
Module Prof. Trasatti: Metals and alloys. Crystalline lattices and lattice defects. Solidification mechanisms. General features of phase diagrams. Iron-carbon diagram. Metallographic analysis. Introduction to optical and electronic microscopy. Corrosion basics. Pourbaix diagram, Atmospheric corrosion. Study cases.
Module Prof. Castellano: Advanced characterization of cultural heritage by X-ray diffraction. Methods and examples. Diffraction on polycrystalline and single crystal materials. The EXAFS technique applied to the characterization of cultural heritage.
Module Prof. Trasatti: Metals and alloys. Crystalline lattices and lattice defects. Solidification mechanisms. General features of phase diagrams. Iron-carbon diagram. Metallographic analysis. Introduction to optical and electronic microscopy. Corrosion basics. Pourbaix diagram, Atmospheric corrosion. Study cases.
Module Prof. Castellano: Advanced characterization of cultural heritage by X-ray diffraction. Methods and examples. Diffraction on polycrystalline and single crystal materials. The EXAFS technique applied to the characterization of cultural heritage.
Prerequisites for admission
Base knowledge of general, analytical and organic chemistry is required to attend the course.
For a deeper understanding of the topics of Prof. Trasatti's module, the attendance of the Bachelor's course of Archeometallurgy in the Science and Technology for studying and preserving the Cultural Heritage and Information Storage Media is highly recommended.
For a deeper understanding of the topics of Prof. Trasatti's module, the attendance of the Bachelor's course of Archeometallurgy in the Science and Technology for studying and preserving the Cultural Heritage and Information Storage Media is highly recommended.
Teaching methods
Module prof. Bruni: The teaching will be based on frontal lessons delivered in the face-to-face classroom.
Module Prof. Trasatti: The teaching will be based on frontal lessons delivered in the face-to-face classroom.
Module Prof. Castellano: The teaching will be based on frontal lessons.
The website of the module is https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=3388
Module Prof. Trasatti: The teaching will be based on frontal lessons delivered in the face-to-face classroom.
Module Prof. Castellano: The teaching will be based on frontal lessons.
The website of the module is https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=3388
Teaching Resources
Module prof. Bruni: The reference material is constituted by the slides of the lessons, made available on the web page of the course.
Module Prof. Trasatti: PDF, Powerpoint presentations or Videos will be utilized during the lessons and a copy of the didactic material will be available for the students.
Module Prof. Castellano: The reference material is constituted by the slides of the lessons, made available on the web page of the course.
Module Prof. Trasatti: PDF, Powerpoint presentations or Videos will be utilized during the lessons and a copy of the didactic material will be available for the students.
Module Prof. Castellano: The reference material is constituted by the slides of the lessons, made available on the web page of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is based on a written test for each module, aimed to assess not only the acquired knowledge but also the capability of discussing critically a problem related to the subjects of the course.
The results of the test for each module are reported on the corresponding website.
The final mark is communicated through the electronic service Vweb.
The results of the test for each module are reported on the corresponding website.
The final mark is communicated through the electronic service Vweb.
CHIM/01 - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
on appointment
teacher's office at the Department of Chemistry
Reception:
Su appuntamento
Dipartimento di Chimica, Corpo A, piano rialzato, stanza R38
Reception:
Wednesday 13:30-12:30, other days by appointment
via Golgi 19, Building 5A (Chemistry), West Wing, mezzanine, room R20-O