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. Elements of Physical Chemistry
1.1 Brief introduction to quantum mechanics as a logic prerequisite to properly comprehend spectroscopic techniques.
1.2 Chemical thermodynamics: first principle.; second principle. Phase equilibria. Chemical equilibria. Phase diagrams.
1.3. Principles of calorimetry. Isothermal and temperature scanning micro-calorimetry
1.4 Elements of Kinetics. Rate of Reaction, Order of Reaction; effect of temperature on the rate of reaction: Arrhenius and Eyring kinetic models.
2. Chemico-physical methods for the investigation of cultural heritage
2.1 Sampling criteria from artefacts.
2.2. IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy
2.2 X-ray based techniques (diffraction XRD, absorption spectroscopy XAS, fluorescence spectroscopy XRF and photoemission spectroscopy XPS).
2.3 Imaging techniques: MultiSpectral; Digital (RGB vs CMY); Trichrome in false color; IR imaging: reflectography and thermography.
3. Processes and evaluation of the aging of materials and artefacts.
3.1. Thermal aging: Kinetic methods for evaluating the life expectancy of cultural heritage and isopermic diagrams
3.2 Photochemical and chemical aging: Principle of reciprocity; Microdissolvency test; Weathering tests
4. Stability and conservation of materials and artifacts of cultural heritage
4.1 Stability and alteration of pigments and dyes
4.2 Processes of alteration and degradation of glass products and conservation methods
4.3 Stability and conservation of metal products. Elements of archaeometallurgy. Corrosion and protection of metal products.
1.1 Brief introduction to quantum mechanics as a logic prerequisite to properly comprehend spectroscopic techniques.
1.2 Chemical thermodynamics: first principle.; second principle. Phase equilibria. Chemical equilibria. Phase diagrams.
1.3. Principles of calorimetry. Isothermal and temperature scanning micro-calorimetry
1.4 Elements of Kinetics. Rate of Reaction, Order of Reaction; effect of temperature on the rate of reaction: Arrhenius and Eyring kinetic models.
2. Chemico-physical methods for the investigation of cultural heritage
2.1 Sampling criteria from artefacts.
2.2. IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy
2.2 X-ray based techniques (diffraction XRD, absorption spectroscopy XAS, fluorescence spectroscopy XRF and photoemission spectroscopy XPS).
2.3 Imaging techniques: MultiSpectral; Digital (RGB vs CMY); Trichrome in false color; IR imaging: reflectography and thermography.
3. Processes and evaluation of the aging of materials and artefacts.
3.1. Thermal aging: Kinetic methods for evaluating the life expectancy of cultural heritage and isopermic diagrams
3.2 Photochemical and chemical aging: Principle of reciprocity; Microdissolvency test; Weathering tests
4. Stability and conservation of materials and artifacts of cultural heritage
4.1 Stability and alteration of pigments and dyes
4.2 Processes of alteration and degradation of glass products and conservation methods
4.3 Stability and conservation of metal products. Elements of archaeometallurgy. Corrosion and protection of metal products.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics and general chemistry
Teaching methods
Lectures and seminars
Attendance to lessons is strongly recomanded
Attendance to lessons is strongly recomanded
Teaching Resources
Slides of lessons supplied by the teachers and selected chapters of text books.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists in the oral presentation and folllowing discussion of a written report, chosen by the student, concerning diagnostic studies and conservation of cultural heritage present in the literature.
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 72 hours