Chemistry of Materials for Cultural Heritage

provide the student with an adequate knowledge of the fundamental concepts of the chemistry of polymeric materials used in the artistic field both as a constituent material of an artefact and as an adhesive, consolidant and protective agent, illustrate the basic concepts of degradation phenomena involving polymeric materials in the artistic field in different scenarios (light, humidity, T, air pollution, smog, microorganisms), and explain their influence on the resulting properties of the work of art. introduce the concept of cleaning from a chemical point of view for the conservation of artistic artefacts, and provide adequate knowledge of the problems connected to the use of solvents in a sustainability perspective and on the different approaches proposed more recently such as micellar systems, emulsions and microemulsions, and polymeric gels, define the problems connected to the consolidation and surface protection of a work of art and explain the strategies through which it is possible to prevent its degradation

At the end of the course, the Student will be able to: describe the chemical-physical characteristics of both natural and synthetic polymers

used both as a constituent material of an artistic artefact and as a consolidant, adhesive and protective, recognize and illustrate the degradation phenomena that influence the conservation of an artistic artefact made of polymers, such as cellulose, wood and plastic, recognize and illustrate the degradation phenomena that influence the performance of polymers used as consolidants, adhesives and protective, identify and select the most suitable conservation strategy for the case, thanks to the scientific and methodological skills acquired, propose the most suitable conservation strategy, based on a careful critical analysis of the state of degradation of an artistic artefact, or dialogue with other professional figures in the field of Cultural Heritage, becoming the ideal interface between those who synthesize and produce polymers and those who restore artistic artefacts.