CULTURAL HERITAGE SCIENCES 2 WITH LABORATORY

The teaching is part of the courses of chemistry applied to cultural heritage. Specifically, the course provides knowledge for designing the different phases of the conservation of the artifacts (architectural, artistic, archaeological). It provides knowledge for identifying operating methods and intervention technologies suitable to the specific conditions of the buildings and to the conservation environment. The topics will enable students to develop skills in the design of interventions and in the selection of the most appropriate methods. Some methodologies will also be applied during the part of laboratory activities, in which the students will be able to work directly on real artifacts and verify the operative choices and the methods of evaluation of their effectiveness.

1. Knowledge and understanding
A) To know the fundamental phases of a project for preserving cultural heritage and the modalities of the intervention
B) To know the most important valuation and monitoring methodologies for the conservation of architectural, artistic and archaeological artefacts
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
A) Know how to use scientific knowledge in order to identify conservation issues and possible solutions,
B) Know how to propose methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies
3. Ability to judge
i) Being able to critically assess the effectiveness of operative choices in relation to the support and to the environmental context
ii) Know how to identify solutions that respect the environment and the health of the operator
4. Communication skills
i) Knowing how to communicate the learned knowledge and the result using appropriate terminology.
ii) Knowing how to interact with the classmates in a respectful and constructive way, especially during the group experimental activities.
5. Learning skills
i) Knowing how to take notes, selecting and collecting information according to their importance and priority.
ii) Being able to be sufficiently autonomous and active in the production and collection of experimental data.

To have reached the educational objectives of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Restoration Chemistry I, having passed the examination of this teaching.

In relation to the educational objectives and intended learning outcomes described in the relevant sections, the course content is organized as follows:

Theoretical Component
Course introduction: course overview, syllabus, examination procedures, and bibliography.
Architectural heritage and the conservation environment: processes of material deterioration and transformation.
The conservation project: theoretical framework.
Cleaning of architectural surfaces:
Criteria for selecting cleaning methods.
Physical and mechanical methods (from manual cleaning to the use of laser technology).
Chemical methods (from nebulized water to poultices using reactive and non-reactive cleaning agents).
Monitoring the interaction between cleaning methods and substrate materials, and evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Consolidation and protection of architectural surfaces:
Requirements for protective and consolidating systems used in cultural heritage conservation.
Organic and inorganic polymeric products (composition and stability).
Criteria for evaluating treatment effectiveness in relation to substrate type and conservation condition.
Case studies.
Monitoring conservation treatments and preventing deterioration:
Methods and criteria for assessing conservation interventions.
Instrumental techniques for monitoring.
Preventive conservation planning.
Case studies.
Cleaning of painted surfaces (paintings):
Criteria for selecting appropriate cleaning methods.
Aqueous cleaning systems for paintings (interactions, monitoring, and evaluation).
Gels (from modified cellulose gels to nanostructured gels).
Solvents (solubility triangle and solvent mixtures).
Assessment of cleaning effectiveness.
Case studies.
Study visits.
Laboratory Component
Selection and application of protective and consolidating products for stone substrates (organic polymers, inorganic polymers, and nanostructured materials).
Evaluation of protective effectiveness through:
Wettability measurements;
Water absorption index determination;
Colorimetric analysis using the CIE Lab* (CIELAB) color system.
Analysis and interpretation of experimental results, followed by the preparation of a technical-scientific report.

A.Amoroso, Trattato di conservazione, ALinea Ed.
Lecture notes and articles provided during the course.

Verification through oral examination and with presentation and discussion of laboratory reports. The oral exam consists of a series of questions concerning both parts of the program reported in the section.The evaluation of laboratory reports accounts for about 20% of the total grade.
The oral exam lasts about 30 minutes.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

The examination consists of an oral interview about the course topics. The professor assesses the candidate based on the knowledge demonstrated during the interview and their ability to relate to the topics covered. The grading system provides for 20% of the total to be related to the quality of the laboratory lectures and 80% to the oral examination.

Teaching is organized in:
a) lectures
b) laboratory experiences in which the students, working in groups, realize the experiences proposed by the teacher
Study visits will be organized.
In the "moodle" platform of the University, there is teaching material