73728 - Chemistry And Technology Of Material Restoration And Preservation

Learning outcomes

The course is specialistic and addressed toward architectural restoration; topics are in particular: crystalline structure and microstructure of materials; physical-mechanical properties of building materials and their weathering; possible conservation strategies and methods

Course contents

Ancient building materials: natural stones; fired-clay bricks; binders, mortars, plasters/renders, stuccoes and finishings; timber; cements; artificial stones and cement-based concrete. Classification and microstructure. Their historical and technological evolution.

Ancient building materials and environment: pollutants and physical-chemical-biological decay processes in building materials. Role of moisture in materials decay.

Destructive and non-destructive diagnostic techniques for the characterization of ancient building materials and their transformation products. Interpretation of the diagnostic outcomes for materials restoration and conservation. Case histories. Standards.

Materials and technologies for the conservation of materials, in compliance with the restoration requirements: 1) Dehumidification systems for ancient masonries. Inspections and monitoring of repaired buildings; 2) Cleaning. Case histories; 3) Materials and technologies for surface and structural consolidation; 4) Materials and technologies for surface protection. Evaluation of the physical-chemical-biological compatibility of materials with the buildings state and the environment.

Conservation of reinforced concrete and cement-based materials in modern heritage.

Materials for the restoration of timber structures.

Degree theses: on every topic of the course, in a practical and applied perspective, also in collaboration with other teachers of the Building Engineering – Architecture Course, Public Institutions, Enterprises, etc.

Readings/Bibliography

- NORMAL/UNI standards

- G. G. AMOROSO, V. FASSINA, “STONE DECAY AND CONSERVATION: ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION, CLEANING CONSOLIDATION AND PROTECTION”, ELSEVIER 1983

- C. MONTAGNI, “MATERIALI PER IL RESTAURO E LA MANUTENZIONE”, UTET 2000

- U. MENICALI, “I MATERIALI DELL'EDILIZIA STORICA”, NIS 1992

Further documents supporting the lessons will be recommended during the classes.

Teaching methods

Photos and videos are used to show case studies about the course topics.

Laboratory (20 hours): practical training on the tests and diagnostic procedures for historic building materials in laboratory and on-site (on samples withdrawn from historic buildings); evaluation of the experimental results; tests and controls on restoration materials; compatibility.
Didactic outings at ancient buildings in Bologna, which are considered representative of the topics discussed in the course, are periodically carried out, as well as didactic outings in restoration workplaces.
Seminars by experts on specific topics concerning materials conservation. Training about the web access to the relevant bibliographic references.

Assessment methods

Final oral examination.

The final test is aimed at evaluating the achievement of the teaching objectives:

- Understanding of the main investigation techniques on ancient building materials, along with their results and the information which can be obtained in view of the restoration intervention

- Understanding the main materials and techniques for the restoration and conservation of ancient materials

- Managing the tools and methodologies learnt during the course in an application-oriented approach.

The final grade is based on the average of the grades in three questions on topics concerning the teaching objectives.

The test dates for the whole year and the registration lists are available on-line on the official AlmaEsami website (the lists are closed 24 hrs before each exam date).

Teaching tools

Communications and documents are made available to the students at https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Franzoni