This course aims to provide to students the principles of chemical technology applied to conservation, restoration and valorization of artistic and cultural heritage. At the completion of the course the students should be able to: (i) identify the main materials that are involved in the construction of different artifacts belonging to cultural heritage; (ii) analyze and comment their decay processes, particularly the chemical and physico-chemical ones; (iii) suggest possible materials and/or procedures to be used in the different conservation steps.
Course Prerequisites
Students are expected to have an appropriate starting knowledge of Mathematics, Physics, and Biochemistry fundamentals (high school level) as well as a basic knowledge of General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.
Teaching Methods
Lectures mainly given by Power Point presentations projected on screen. In-depth analysis of selected topics on the blackboard. Some materials and simple instruments studied during the lectures are displayed to the students in the classroom.
Assessment Methods
Oral exam aiming to verify the knowledge gained by the student on the main topics of the course.
Texts
Detailed lecture notes of the teacher will be provided. Reference book: C. Quaglierini, L. Amorosi Chimica e tecnologia dei materiali per l’arte, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1991; M. Matteini, A. Moles La chimica nel restauro, Nardini, Firenze, 2003; L. Campanella et al. Chimica per l’arte, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2007
Contents
The role of chemistry in the preservation of cultural heritage. Materials that forms artifacts with historical and artistic significance. Stone materials: genesis and composition; causes and mechanisms of stone decay (e.g. water, pollutants, soluble salts, black crusts). Conservation of stone. Cleaning, consolidation, and protection: natural and artificial materials; procedures and technologies adopted in conservation. Structure and properties of polymeric compounds used in conservation. Artificial stone materials: aerial and hydraulic mortars; cement; decay and conservation. Terracotta and ceramic: involved material, production technologies, decay and conservation. Materials based on cellulose: wood and paper. Decay of cellulose: hydrolysis, oxidation, and photo-oxidation. Conservation of paper artifacts. Deacidification procedures. Paintings. Pigments and dyes. Pictorial binders. Proteinaceous binders and siccative oils. Drying mechanisms. Frescoes. Decay and conservation of paintings.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Further information can be provided by the teacher
