Foto del docente

Rocco Mazzeo

Full Professor

Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician"

Academic discipline: CHIM/12 Chemistry for the Environment and for Cultural Heritage

Director of Organisational Unit (UOS) Ravenna of Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician"

Research

Keywords: optical microscopy diagnosis cultural heritage microchemistry portable XRF spectrometry micro-invasive techniques conservation science multi soectral imaging FTIR microscopy

The research activity of M2ADL is performed through diverse forms of collaboration, in Italy and abroad. It focuses in particular on the chemical-physical characterization of objects of historical/artistic/archaeological interest, with particular attention to the study of processes and causes of alteration, test new materials and restoration methods, identify the chemical-physical interaction of heritage materials with the environment.

The research activities are implemented with the use of a complement of analytical techniques available at the M2ADL such as: • Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) • Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) • Multi-Spectral Scanner Imaging System • Optical Microscopy • FTIR microscopy (ATR, diamond cell, Mapping). Other analytical techniques are also used thanks to their availability within other university departments:: • X-ray Diffraction (XRD) • Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) • Ion Chromatography (IC) • Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) • Colour measurement.

The activity of M2ADL is directly related to the Bachelor and Master degrees in Science and Technology for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the University of Bologna (campus of Ravenna). M2ADL operates in the field of science for conservation, focusing in particular on chemical and physical methodologies in close and permanent collaboration with prestigious institutes of conservation and restoration, both public and private. Its activity spans to consulting, research, teaching and to the organization of seminars and specialised meetings, in Italy and abroad.  M2ADL boasts active partnerships both with Italian research groups, such as ALMA SteCH (Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage) of the University of Bologna, and with international Networks, such as IPERION-CH (http://www.iperionch.eu/home ).

It HAS also coordinated the European consortium EPISCON (European PhD in Science for Conservation), a post-Master degree project in the field of science for conservation.



Methodological approach

M2ADL makes use of a diagnostic methodological approach through an interdisciplinary collaboration, which foresees:

ü       the definition of the diagnostic aims and objectives, jointly decided and shared by all the participants involved in the project;

ü       a preliminary use of non-destructive techniques aimed at documenting the state of conservation, characterizing the material constitution, determining causes and forms of deterioration;

ü       the identification of possible areas for micro-sampling and subsequent micro-destructive analyses aimed at reaching a better stratigraphic material characterization and a deeper understanding of the causes and forms of alteration;

ü       a permanent contact with the conservation project responsible in order to figure out possible needs for further investigations.

 

Consultancy services

The level of thorough knowledge reached in the diverse fields of science and technology for cultural heritage allows M2ADL to perform specific procedures and consulting that apply to the chemical-physical characterization of materials, to the detection of the state of conservation, to ancient production techniques of both movable and immovable heritage, with particular reference to stone and bronze monuments, architectural decorations, polychrome surfaces, metal alloys and archaeological materials.

Consultancy services can be aimed at:

ü       providing authorities and agencies for the conservation of cultural heritage with a practical conservation management tool which is based on the evaluation of risk and identification of conservation priorities, assessed through scientific investigation and diagnosis of the actual state of conservation;

ü       carrying out diagnosis during the whole duration of a conservation-restoration project, according to the above mentioned methodology.

 

Research activities

The research activity of M2ADL is performed through diverse forms of collaboration, in Italy and abroad. It focuses in particular on the chemical-physical characterization of objects of historical/ artistic/archaeological interest, with particular attention to the study of processes and causes of alteration, testing new materials and restoration methods, identifying the chemical-physical interaction of heritage materials with the environment.

Some of M2ADL's present research projects:

ü       IPERION-CH (http://www.iperionch.eu/home). 

ü       Setting up of new integrated analytical procedures both non-invasive and micro-invasive aimed at studying painted works of art. The research is aimed at enhancing the sensitivity of spectroscopic methods such as FTIR microscopy (ATR mapping and ATR imaging) both in the MIR and FIR spectral region

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