Chemical-Physical Methods for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage

At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Describe the chemical-physical mechanisms underlying: · the main modern methods of scientific investigation (spectroscopy, microscopy, image analysis) used to assess the state of conservation and recovery criteria of cultural heritage; · the alteration and stability of materials and artifacts of the main materials (stone, ceramic, metal, wood, and organic) used for the manufacture of cultural goods. 2. Identify, depending on the nature of the cultural goods and the invasiveness (destructive or non-destructive analysis) allowed by the artifact, the most appropriate analysis techniques to: · assess the state of conservation of cultural heritage · study the morphological-structural properties of the materials of which they are composed. Discuss the practical application of diagnostic investigation techniques, degradation from a chemical-physical perspective in case studies independently identified by the student.

The student becomes familiar with the physical quantities used as evaluation parameters for the conservation status and recovery criteria of cultural heritage, with particular reference to those of thermodynamics and phenomenological kinetics, rheology, spectroscopy, various types of microscopy, and image analysis.