Chemical and Physical Methods for the Cultural Goods Conservation
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. describe the fundamental physical-chemical mechanisms at the base of the
· principal modern scientific investigation methods (spectroscopy, microscopy, imaging) employed to evaluate the conservation state and the criteria to restore cultural heritage items.
· alteration and weathering as well as the stability of materials for the fabrication of cultural heritage artifacts belonging to the most employed classes of substances (lithics, ceramics, metals, wood, and organic)
2. Identify, through an assessment based on the nature of cultural heritage items, and on the allowed invasivity (destructive or not-destructive investigation), the most suitable analysis techniques to:
· evaluate the conservation state of cultural heritage items;
· study the morphological and structural properties of the materials constituting the items.
3. Discuss the practical application of the diagnostic techniques, and the degradation mechanisms, from the physical chemistry point of view in case studies autonomously identified by the student from the international recent scientific literature.
1. describe the fundamental physical-chemical mechanisms at the base of the
· principal modern scientific investigation methods (spectroscopy, microscopy, imaging) employed to evaluate the conservation state and the criteria to restore cultural heritage items.
· alteration and weathering as well as the stability of materials for the fabrication of cultural heritage artifacts belonging to the most employed classes of substances (lithics, ceramics, metals, wood, and organic)
2. Identify, through an assessment based on the nature of cultural heritage items, and on the allowed invasivity (destructive or not-destructive investigation), the most suitable analysis techniques to:
· evaluate the conservation state of cultural heritage items;
· study the morphological and structural properties of the materials constituting the items.
3. Discuss the practical application of the diagnostic techniques, and the degradation mechanisms, from the physical chemistry point of view in case studies autonomously identified by the student from the international recent scientific literature.
Expected learning outcomes
The student becomes familiar with physical properties used as parameters to evaluate the conservation and/or establish the restoration criteria of art crafts, with particular emphasis to thermodynamics, kinetics, rheology, spectroscopy, various kinds of microscopy and image analysis.
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
1. Criteria for sampling from artifacts; spectroscopic techniques and electromagnetic spectrum; light sources and light control methods; principles of spectroscopic techniques and phenomena observed by UV-VIS, infrared, and Raman scattering spectroscopy.
2. Microscopy and imaging techniques: scanning and transmission electron microscopy; MultiSpectral, digital (RGB vs. CMY), and false-color trichrome imaging; IR imaging: reflectography and thermography.
3. X-ray-based techniques: diffraction (XRD), absorption spectroscopy (XAS), fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). A glimpse into the main neutron-based techniques.
4. Processes and evaluation of the aging of materials and artifacts, alteration and degradation, and prediction of the life expectancy of a cultural heritage item or of its components.
5. Aging and degradation processes via thermal, photochemical, and chemical processes: methods for assessing the stability of cultural heritage items by accelerating the chemical kinetics of the degradation processes. Accelerated kinetics with climate chambers, micro-fading, and weathering tests. Slowing down the degradation kinetics by controlling environmental parameters.
6. Stability and conservation of the main constituent materials of cultural heritage artifacts.
- Pigments and dyes: their stability and the photochemical and photocatalytic degradation processes.
- Alteration and degradation processes of glass artifacts and conservation methods.
- Stability and preservation of metal artifacts: corrosion, passivation, and protection.
- Major organic materials: their chemical and physical properties and degradation mechanisms: ivory, wood, cellulose, paper, textiles, dyes, and additives. The main analytical techniques for this family of materials: gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and detectors.
- Structural materials and their degradation mechanisms
- Identify forgeries and stolen artifacts by chemical and physical analysis of the employed materials.
2. Microscopy and imaging techniques: scanning and transmission electron microscopy; MultiSpectral, digital (RGB vs. CMY), and false-color trichrome imaging; IR imaging: reflectography and thermography.
3. X-ray-based techniques: diffraction (XRD), absorption spectroscopy (XAS), fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). A glimpse into the main neutron-based techniques.
4. Processes and evaluation of the aging of materials and artifacts, alteration and degradation, and prediction of the life expectancy of a cultural heritage item or of its components.
5. Aging and degradation processes via thermal, photochemical, and chemical processes: methods for assessing the stability of cultural heritage items by accelerating the chemical kinetics of the degradation processes. Accelerated kinetics with climate chambers, micro-fading, and weathering tests. Slowing down the degradation kinetics by controlling environmental parameters.
6. Stability and conservation of the main constituent materials of cultural heritage artifacts.
- Pigments and dyes: their stability and the photochemical and photocatalytic degradation processes.
- Alteration and degradation processes of glass artifacts and conservation methods.
- Stability and preservation of metal artifacts: corrosion, passivation, and protection.
- Major organic materials: their chemical and physical properties and degradation mechanisms: ivory, wood, cellulose, paper, textiles, dyes, and additives. The main analytical techniques for this family of materials: gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and detectors.
- Structural materials and their degradation mechanisms
- Identify forgeries and stolen artifacts by chemical and physical analysis of the employed materials.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and general chemistry.
Teaching methods
Lectures and seminars. Attendance to the lectures is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Lectures sides, provided by the professor and selected chapters of the textbooks:
"Scientific Methods and Cultural Heritage", G. Artioli, Oxford Press
"Elementi di Archeometria" A. Castellano, Egea
Scientific articles from the recent literature, provided during the lectures.
"Scientific Methods and Cultural Heritage", G. Artioli, Oxford Press
"Elementi di Archeometria" A. Castellano, Egea
Scientific articles from the recent literature, provided during the lectures.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral presentation, followed by a discussion. The presentation will focus on a case study independently identified by the student within the recent international scientific literature and concerning studies of diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage. The final score will be on a 0-30 scale (with max 30/30 and passing grade 18/30).
Professor(s)
Reception:
All working days upon appointment
Chemistry Department, ground floow, wing B, office number R28