77767 - Cultural Heritage Chemistry and Diagnostics I

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has skills in planning a diagnostic intervention and in identifying and evaluating the most suitable materials and intervention methods. In particular, he/she is able to: - identify the most appropriate analytical sequence for characterizing the state of conservation, composition and causes of deterioration of stone and metal assets; - perform a comparative evaluation of the most appropriate materials and methods of intervention on different types of cultural heritage.

Course contents

• Environment\Material interaction: degradation and diagnostics of the state of conservation

• Materials and methods for restoration

• Characterization of materials and their degradation products, through metallography with optical and scanning electron microscopy with microanalysis (SEM-EDAX) and portable X-ray fluorescence, FTIR (MIR and FIR) and FTIR microscopy, RX diffractometry.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Lucidi ed appunti di lezione
2. M.Matteini, R.Mazzeo, A.Moles. Chemistry for restoration: painting and restoration materials. Nardini editore, Firenze 2016.
3. M.Marabelli.Conservazione e restauro dei metalli d'arte. Roma. Accademia del Lincei, Anno CCCXCII, 1995.
4. R. Mazzeo, “Patine su manufatti metallici†in Le patine: genesi significato e conservazione, Nardini Editore, Kermesquaderni, pp.29-43, 2005
5. Licia Vlad Borrelli, Restauro archeologico. Storia e materiali. Viella Editore, 2003.
6. E. Formigli. I grandi bronzi antichi. Le fonderie e le tecniche di lavorazione dall'età arcaica al Rinascimento. Nuova Immagine Editrice, 1999.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of classroom lessons with power point presentations and video projections and 16 hours of laboratory focused on the characterization of metallic artifacts

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of an oral discussion on the topics covered during the course and has the objective of verifying whether the theoretical knowledge acquired reflects an organic vision of the topics of the course.
Students will obtain a good or excellent score if they demonstrate a critical knowledge of the topics and if they are able to apply theoretical knowledge to practical cases.
If the verified knowledge will be of only mnemonic nature with limited synthesis and analysis skills, the score will be from fair to sufficient. The evaluation will be insufficient if the student presents important gaps or lacks understanding of key topics of the course.
The topics covered during the laboratory sessions will be an integral part of the oral exam.
At the end, the teacher assigns a score ranging from 18/30 to 30/30 with the possibility of Honors.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Teaching tools

Projector, PC, diagnostic and restoration laboratory

Office hours

See the website of Cristina Chiavari

See the website of Giorgia Sciutto