The conservation and restoration of cultural heritage is a difficult discipline to handle due to its many peculiarities and needs. In addition to the physical-chemical nature of the object itself, there is also the intangible historical-artistic value. This is why, traditionally, the main priority of all conservation and restoration processes has been that the treatments and methodologies should be as respectful as possible to the object, leaving aside other aspects, such as toxicological risks for the restorers themselves, the environment and the elimination of waste.
In recent years, the need to include sustainability in heritage conservation has emerged. Awareness of toxicological risk issues for the restorer and for the environment, as well as the search for a substantial improvement in the quality of life, has progressively allowed the development of lines of research in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, focused on the reduction of toxicity parameters.
In order to make up for these shortcomings, a research group with extensive experience in heritage conservation and restoration has been set up, whose lines of research include the critical evaluation of new products and intervention methodologies, including consolidation treatments of stone supports with sustainable materials (hydroxyapatite nanoparticles), consolidation with natural glues of pictorial layers, and gelled cleaning systems and laser techniques.
This presentation shows some examples of studies carried out so far based on a critical evaluation of the effectiveness and feasibility from the point of view of conservation and restoration of cultural property, as well as the assessment of possible risks to both human health and the environment.
In recent years, the need to include sustainability in heritage conservation has emerged. Awareness of toxicological risk issues for the restorer and for the environment, as well as the search for a substantial improvement in the quality of life, has progressively allowed the development of lines of research in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, focused on the reduction of toxicity parameters.
In order to make up for these shortcomings, a research group with extensive experience in heritage conservation and restoration has been set up, whose lines of research include the critical evaluation of new products and intervention methodologies, including consolidation treatments of stone supports with sustainable materials (hydroxyapatite nanoparticles), consolidation with natural glues of pictorial layers, and gelled cleaning systems and laser techniques.
This presentation shows some examples of studies carried out so far based on a critical evaluation of the effectiveness and feasibility from the point of view of conservation and restoration of cultural property, as well as the assessment of possible risks to both human health and the environment.