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
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:
Partner responsible: Dr. Biol. Lia Mara Dițu
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.
Identification and sampling of pilot areas. Development of model substrates.
Implementation period: 29/06/2022 – 31/12/2022
Activities:
Development of multifunctional composites.
Implementation period: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2023
Activities:
Demonstration of functionality and validation of proposed solutions.
Implementation period: 01/01/2024 – 20/06/2024
Activities:
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:
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 |