Innovative multifunctional composites for the protection of cultural heritage objects

InHeritage

PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2021-0627

(591PED/2022)

As the degradation processes of cultural heritage objects remain inevitable, the continuous development of advanced materials able to counteract specific degradation processes is also necessary. Thus, are needed thorough scientific studies in order to develop tailored formulation, in order to protect, preserve, and restore cultural heritage objects, and this represents a continuous challenge for the scientists, aiming to replace the current rather serendipitous approaches in restoration.

Project goal

The main goal of the project is to develop novel multi-layer composite materials with multiple functions (consolidation, self-cleaning and anti-microbial) applicable for the conservation of different inorganic substrates.

Contracting authority: Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI)

Implementation period: 29/06/2022-20/06/2024

Budget: 598.795 lei

Project director: Dr. Habil. Radu Claudiu Fierăscu

  • Consortium
  • General objective
  • Phase I
  • Phase II
  • Phase III
  • Obtained results
Consortium

Coordinator:

National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry – ICECHIM Bucharest

Project director: Dr. Habil. Radu Claudiu Fierăscu

Partner 1:

University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest,

Partner responsible: Dr. Ing. Alina Melinescu


Partner 2:

University of Bucharest,

Partner responsible: Dr. Biol. Lia Mara Dițu

General objective

The InHeritage project aims to develop novel multi-layer composite materials with multiple functions (consolidation, self-cleaning and anti-microbial effect), applicable for the conservation of different inorganic substrates. The solutions developed in this project will represent not only an alignment to the international level of research, but also a very important technical solution, innovative at national level, that will contribute to the project sustainability after the implementation period.

Phase I

Identification and sampling of pilot areas. Development of model substrates.

Implementation period: 29/06/2022 – 31/12/2022

Activities:

  • Identification of pilot areas, representative at national level;
  • Evaluation of the most common types of degradation encountered on stone objects from the cultural heritage (monuments, vernacular constructions, etc.) in the pilot area;
  • Sampling cultural heritage objects;
  • Identification of microorganisms that affect cultural heritage objects in pilot areas;
  • Development of model substrates for further studies;
  • Establishing the most suitable consolidant for each type of support materials in the pilot area;
  • Results and project dissemination;
  • Intellectual property protection activities.
Phase II

Development of multifunctional composites.

Implementation period: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2023

Activities:

  • Defining the desired performances of the multilayer coatings to be developed;
  • Development and application of multilayer coatings;
  • Evaluation of the effect of multilayer coatings on model substrates;
  • Optimization of multilayer coatings;
  • Results and project dissemination;
  • Intellectual property protection activities.
Phase III

Demonstration of functionality and validation of proposed solutions.

Implementation period: 01/01/2024 – 20/06/2024

Activities:

  • Evaluation of the results obtained for optimized recipes;
  • Internal validation of the proposed solution;
  • Third party validation of the proposed solution;
  • Elaboration of technical documentation for technology and products;
  • LCA for proposed multilayer coatings and toxicity assessment;
  • Results and project dissemination.
Obtained results
Cooperation agreements
  • NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNION ALBA IULIA
  • GOLESTI VITICULTURE AND FRUIT CULTURE MUSEUM
  • BUZĂU COUNTY MUSEUM
  • NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROMANIAN PEASANT
  • ECO-MUSEUM RESEARCH INSTITUTE “GAVRILĂ SIMION” TULCEA
ISI papers
  1. Fistos, T.; Fierascu, I.; Doni, M.; Chican, I.E.; Fierascu, R.C. A Short Overview of Recent Developments in the Application of Polymeric Materials for the Conservation of Stone Cultural Heritage Elements. Materials 2022, 15, 6294. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186294
  2. Gîfu, I.C.; Ianchiș, R.; Nistor, C.L.; Petcu, C.; Fierascu, I.; Fierascu, R.C. Polyelectrolyte Coatings—A Viable Approach for Cultural Heritage Protection. Materials 2023, 16, 2873. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072873
Participation to scientific meetings
  1. NATIONAL CHEMISTRY CONFERENCE, Edition XXXVI, 05-07 October 2022, Calimanesti Caciulata, Treatment of cultural heritage objects with phosphate materials with potential antimicrobial – Toma Fistos, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Valentin Raditoiu, Radu Claudiu Fierascu
  2. The International Symposium “PRIORITIES OF CHEMISTRY FOR A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”PRIOCHEM – XVIII-th Edition. October 26-28, 2022, Tailoring protective coatings for the protection of cultural heritage inorganic objects–inheritage project – Toma Fistos, Alina Melinescu, Lia Mara Dițu, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Florica Marinescu, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Irina Fierăscu, Anda Maria Baroi, Cristian-Andi Nicolae, Radu Claudiu Fierăscu
  3. Virtual International Scientific Conference on “Applications of Chemistry in Nanosciences and Biomaterials Engineering – NanoBioMat 2022” 24-26 November 2022 Application of Phosphate Materials Enhanced with Different Metals with Potential Antimicrobial Properties on Different Types of Bricks. Toma Fistos, Roxana Ioana Matei, Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Valentin Raditoiu, Radu Claudiu Fierascu (Best poster award)
  4. International Scientific Symposium CURRENT TRENDS IN NATURAL SCIENCES 2023, Organic/inorganic biocomposites of natural and/or synthetic origin for the conservation of cultural heritage, Toma Fistos, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Tanta-Verona Iordache, Sorin-Viorel Dolana
  5. Exploratory Workshop NeXT-Chem: “Innovative Cross-Sectoral Technologies” May 22-23, 2023, ROMANIA, Innovative material for the consolidation, conservation and reinforcement of underwater wood of cultural heritage, Toma Fistos, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Tanta-Verona Iordache, Sorin-Viorel Dolana
  6. Virtual International Scientific Conference on “Applications of Chemistry in Nanosciences and Biomaterials Engineering” NanoBioMat 2023 – Summer Edition, 28-30 June 2023, Apatitic Materials Improve with Heavy Metals with Potential Antimicrobial Properties for the treatment of Wood and Stone Cultural Heritage Objects. Toma Fistos, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Radu Claudiu Fierascu
Participation to inventions exhibitions
  1. IDEA (IDEA, Novelty, Invention and craft) International Exhibition, Abony, Hungary – Innovative multifunctional composites for the protection of cultural heritage objects (InHeritage) – Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Alina Melinescu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Irina Fierascu, Denisa Ficai, Alina Maria Holban, Toma Fistos, Anton Ficai, Carmen Curutiu (Gold medal)
  2. International Exhibition of Inventions and Innovations “TRAIAN VUIA – 2022 Timisoara – Innovative multifunctional composites for the protection of cultural heritage objects (InHeritage) – Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Alina Melinescu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Irina Fierascu, Denisa Ficai, Alina Maria Holban, Toma Fistos, Anton Ficai, Carmen Curutiu (Gold medal)
  3. 7th International Inventions Fair – ISIF’22 – Innovative multifunctional composites for the protection of cultural heritage objects (InHeritage) – Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Alina Melinescu, Lia-Mara Ditu, Irina Fierascu, Denisa Ficai, Alina Maria Holban, Toma Fistos, Anton Ficai, Carmen Curutiu (Gold medal)
  4. EUROINVENT 2023 – Hydrophobic coating with self-cleaning and antimicrobial properties for artificial elements of vernacular constructions and method of obtaining it – Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Toma Fistos, Irina Fierascu, Alina Melinescu, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Lia Mara Ditu, Carmen Curutiu (Gold medal, awards from INOE 2000, Inventarium Science Portugal, special delegation award – ICPE-CA, EUROINVENT Grand Award)
  5. INVENTICA 2023 – Hydrophobic coating with self-cleaning and antimicrobial properties for artificial elements of vernacular constructions and method of obtaining it – Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Toma Fistos, Irina Fierascu, Alina Melinescu, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Lia Mara Ditu, Carmen Curutiu (Gold medal, awards from CITT-UPT, Moldova Technical University)
  6. International Exhibition Traian Vuia 2023, Timisoara – Hydrophobic coating with self-cleaning and antimicrobial properties for artificial elements of vernacular constructions and method of obtaining it – Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Toma Fistos, Irina Fierascu, Alina Melinescu, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Lia Mara Ditu, Carmen Curutiu (Silver medal, Diploma of Excellence INOE 2000)
Workshop
Patent applications
  1. Patent application A00773/28.11.2022, Hydrophobic coating with self-cleaning and antimicrobial properties for artificial elements of vernacular constructions and method of obtaining it, inventors: Toma Fistos, Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Roxana Ioana Brazdis (Matei), Anda Maria Baroi, Irina Fierascu, Mihaela Alina Melinescu, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Lia Mara Ditu, Carmen Curutiu
Image gallery
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Phase reports
Phase 1

Summary

Since the degradation processes of cultural heritage objects remain inevitable, the continuous development of advanced materials capable of counteracting the specific degradation processes is necessary. Thus, thorough scientific studies are needed to develop a customized formulation to protect, conserve and restore cultural heritage objects, and this represents a continuous challenge for scientists, aiming to replace current approaches in restoration, which are rather under the specter of serendipity.

The InHeritage project thus aims to develop new multilayer composite materials with multiple functions (consolidation, self-cleaning and antimicrobial effect), applicable for the preservation of various inorganic substrates. The solutions developed in this project will represent not only an alignment with international concerns in the field, but also a very important, innovative technical solution at the national level, which will contribute to the sustainability of the project after the implementation period.

The activities expected to be carried out by the consortium during the first year of implementation were:

  • Act 1.1 – Identification of pilot areas, representative at national level; signing protocols with local authorities regarding full access to cultural heritage sites, if applicable.
  • Act 1.2 – Evaluation of the most common types of degradation encountered on stone objects from the cultural heritage (monuments, vernacular constructions, etc.) in the pilot area; taking samples of cultural heritage objects; identification of microorganisms that affect cultural heritage objects in the pilot areas
  • Act 1.3 – Development of model substrates for further studies
  • Act 1.4 – Establishing the most suitable consolidant for each type of support material in the pilot area.
  • Act 1.5 – Dissemination of the results and the project

The proposed activities were carried out in full, supporting the continuation of the project in 2023. Thus, pilot areas were identified (by signing collaboration agreements with several museum institutions) that were studied to identify the main causes of the degradation of vernacular buildings and monuments. Several types of model substrates were identified, on which consolidation studies were started, using the most suitable recipes, according to the literature study.

The obtained results were disseminated within the scientific community, the results of the dissemination being widely presented on the project website (Romanian version – https://icechim.ro/project/inheritage_ro/, English version – https:// icechim.ro/project/inheritage_en/).

No
Estimated results
Obtained results
1

List of pilot areas (at least three), collaboration agreements, if applicable

The list of pilot areas was developed, and collaboration agreements were signed with five museum units (three presenting representative objectives at the regional level and two presenting representative objectives at the national level).

2

Report on the structure and biological contamination of cultural heritage objects

The structure of biological contamination of objects of interest, as well as other sources of degradation, was studied and documented

3

At least five substrates model, replicating the original substrates

7 model substrates (5 artificial and 2 natural) were developed, replicating the original substrates

4

Report on the most suitable consolidants for each type of substrate

The possibilities of developing consolidants adapted to various types of substrate have been documented

5

At least one ISI paper submitted for publication

An ISI paper has been published

6

At least two participations at international scientific events

Six participations at international scientific events were registered

7

Filing a patent application

A patent application has been filed

Phase 2
Phase 3