Abstract
Cultural Heritage is a crucial socioeconomic resource; yet, recurring degradation processes endanger its preservation. Serendipitous approaches in restoration practice need to be replaced by systematically addressing conservation issues through the development of advanced materials for the preservation of the artifacts. In the last few decades, materials and colloid science have provided valid solutions to counteract degradation, and we report here the main highlights in the formulation and application of materials and methodologies for the cleaning, protection and consolidation of works of art. Several types of artifacts are addressed, from murals to canvas paintings, metal objects, and paper artworks, comprising both classic and modern/contemporary art. Systems, such as nanoparticles, gels, nanostructured cleaning fluids, composites, and other functional materials, are reviewed. Future perspectives are also commented, outlining open issues and trends in this challenging and exciting field.
Highlights
Cultural Heritage represents an invaluable socioeconomic resource
In the last few decades, materials and colloid science have provided valid solutions to counteract degradation, and we report here the main highlights in the formulation and application of materials and methodologies for the cleaning, protection and consolidation of works of art
Nanostructured fluids (NSFs) are colloidal systems based on the peculiar properties of surfactants
Summary
Cultural Heritage represents an invaluable socioeconomic resource. Works of art, when properly preserved and accessible, foster job creation, tourism, social inclusion, and cultural identity. Up to the early XX century, the removal of soil or generic unwanted materials was mainly carried out using organic solvents, sometimes thickened with natural or synthetic polymers This traditional approach is still widely used, and mostly relies on the evaluation of solubility parameters, such as those proposed and defined by Hildebrand [7,8,9] and later modified and simplified by Teas [10], or, more recently, to solvatochromic properties and equilibrium swelling capacity [9,11], which are used to select solvent blends to swell or solubilize the unwanted compounds. The contribution of nanoscience and materials science to the field of preservation of Cultural Heritage, allowed overcoming these limitations, and provided the conservators’ community with a palette of advanced systems and methodologies that are revolutionizing the cleaning of works of art [6,14,15]
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