The course enables students to understand how chemistry is applied in the field of restoration and conservation. They acquire analytical techniques and instrumental methods in order to characterise original materials in artworks and to study degradation processes of materials in function of ageing and environmental pollution.
Particularly, the following topics are discussed:
- The concept of safeguard of Cultural heritage and the chemical characterisation to suggest a correct restoration approach.
- non invasive and invasive techniques.
- environmental impact on artworks: black crusts and oxalate films: origin, causes and characterisation.
- Sampling an artwork: sample representativity
- the painting materials. Classification of organic binders (proteins, lipids, resins, gums, waxes, bitumen) and of pigments and their characterisation by chromatography and spectroscopic techniques. Degradation processes
- organic materials in archaeological objects. Chemical characterisation of balms, waterproofing materials, adhesives food.
- materials used in the restoration practice.