Abstract
Coatings to be used for cultural heritage protection face peculiar challenges. In the last few decades, several projects addressed the issue of new treatments in the field of copper alloy artworks. Nonetheless, no one has yet been recognised as a more acceptable solution with respect to traditional choices, with their known limits. The lack of standard methods to test new coatings that can be effectively applied to artworks make it more difficult to compare different studies and open the way to practical use in restoration. Over the years, several issues have gradually been better focused, even though they are not yet widely considered in new coatings efficacy evaluation for application on copper alloy artifacts. They are mainly linked to the quite complex surface of this category of heritage objects and the role it plays on coating effectiveness. An overview of the variety of relevant surface properties is provided (presence of corrosion products and old protective treatments, cleaning methods, surface unevenness, just to name a few) with a special focus on the role of coating performance. Some methodological choices are discussed for the selection of mock-ups, testing techniques and weathering procedures, with peculiar attention to comparison with real artworks.
Highlights
Metal objects represents a very broad category in heritage conservation
One can find an extensive discussion of metals and alloys of interest for cultural heritage (Table 1), main information on construction steps (Table 2)—which may influence the conservation—and on corrosion basic principles
A decuprification process was identified [37,44,45], along with cyclic corrosion similar to the “bronze disease” traditionally associated with archaeological copper alloys [2,35,45,46]. The growth of this surface layer on outdoor bronze sculptures and architectonic elements exposed to different weather and pollution conditions is the result of a specific timeline
Summary
Metal objects represents a very broad category in heritage conservation. It is something easy to realise just by having a look at the corrosion identification booklet published by. A decuprification process was identified [37,44,45], along with cyclic corrosion similar to the “bronze disease” traditionally associated with archaeological copper alloys [2,35,45,46] The growth of this surface layer on outdoor bronze sculptures and architectonic elements exposed to different weather and pollution conditions is the result of a specific timeline. The common practice consists in the use of treatments to prevent or reduce detrimental corrosion, which for outdoor bronze consist in the application of coatings that avoid the contact of the metal/patina layer with the actively corroding agents in the atmosphere (water, corroding ions) and/or other treatments This leadsmethodologies to the necessityadopted of restoration.
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