Analytical Advances in the Study of Multilayered Surfaces in Cultural Heritage

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 8107

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostics, CISRiC, University of Pavia, 26100 Cremona, Italy
Interests: multi-layered coatings; material characterization; heritage science; musical instruments; cleanings; spectroscopies
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Guest Editor
1. Arvedi Laboratory of Non-Invasive Diagnostics, CISRiC, University of Pavia, 26100 Cremona, Italy
2. Department of Musicology and Cultural Heritage, University of Pavia, 26100 Cremona, Italy
Interests: materials characterization; non invasive analysis; studies of coatings and protectives; artworks conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A challenging but decisive task for researchers in the field of Cultural Heritage is often the study of coated surfaces of historical manufactured products. Most artworks, such as paintings, frescoes, statues, and musical instruments, present a complex multilayered overlapped structure and a different multimaterial composition made by original and restoration materials in a unique coating system, such as protectives, adhesives, consolidants, and dirt deposits. The development of diagnostic techniques and new non- and micro-invasive analytical approaches has allowed researchers to obtain a more precise characterization of the materials and their distribution in stratigraphic sequence, with the main aim to recognize the presence of both original and conservation layers variously spread and overlapped on the surface.

This Special Issue will serve as a forum for research papers, communications, and review articles aimed at developing innovative analytical and technical approaches in the field of Cultural Heritage.

Contributions may include but are not limited to the following concepts:

  • Innovative analytical approaches for multilayered systems;
  • Technical advances in the study of coatings;
  • Interactions between substrate and finishing layers;
  • Investigation of multimaterial and multilayered coatings;
  • Alteration and degradation of surfaces and substrates;
  • Surface and interface characterization in cleanings procedures;
  • Non- and micro-invasive techniques: advances and new analytical approaches.

Dr. Giacomo Fiocco
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marco Malagodi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coated surface
  • Cultural Heritage
  • multilayered system
  • art
  • varnish

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 41089 KiB  
Article
A Technical Study of Chinese Buddhist Sculptures: First Insights into a Complex History of Transformation through Analysis of the Polychrome Decoration
by Chiara Ricci, Paola Buscaglia, Debora Angelici, Anna Piccirillo, Enrica Matteucci, Daniele Demonte, Valentina Tasso, Noemi Sanna, Francesca Zenucchini, Sara Croci, Federico Di Iorio, Laura Vigo, Davide Quadrio and Federica Pozzi
Coatings 2024, 14(3), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14030344 - 13 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1931
Abstract
Artifacts pertaining to Buddhist culture are often studied in relation to their circulation from India throughout the rest of Asia; however, many traveled to Europe during the last few centuries as trade commodities and pieces for the art market, losing any devotional purpose [...] Read more.
Artifacts pertaining to Buddhist culture are often studied in relation to their circulation from India throughout the rest of Asia; however, many traveled to Europe during the last few centuries as trade commodities and pieces for the art market, losing any devotional purpose in favor of a specific aesthetic sensitivity that was typically adapted to Western taste to appeal to collectors. This article presents a technical study of seven polychrome wooden sculptures from the Museo d’Arte Orientale (MAO) in Turin, Italy. Originally from China, these objects are generally attributed to the late Ming–early Qing dynasties (16th–18th centuries) based merely on stylistic and iconographic considerations. Scientific analysis sought to expand the available knowledge on their constituting materials and fabrication techniques, to address questions on their authenticity, to assess their state of preservation, and to trace the history of transformations they have undergone while transitioning from devotional objects to private collection and museum artwork. By delving into the sculptures’ intricate paint stratigraphy, the results were also key to guiding treatment choices. The outcomes of this study were featured in the MAO exhibition “Buddha10. A Fragmented Display on Buddhist Visual Evolution” (October 2022–September 2023). Full article
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17 pages, 13012 KiB  
Article
Corrosion Behaviors of Artificial Chloride Patina for Studying Bronze Sculpture Corrosion in Marine Environments
by Heehong Kwon
Coatings 2023, 13(9), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13091630 - 17 Sep 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
Copper trihydroxychlorides, which are known as “bronze disease”, are dangerous corrosion products that compromise the stability and conservation of bronze sculptures. Here, we performed artificial patina corrosion experiments on quaternary bronze (Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb) to examine the corrosion behavior of the chloride patina commonly found [...] Read more.
Copper trihydroxychlorides, which are known as “bronze disease”, are dangerous corrosion products that compromise the stability and conservation of bronze sculptures. Here, we performed artificial patina corrosion experiments on quaternary bronze (Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb) to examine the corrosion behavior of the chloride patina commonly found in bronze objects in marine environments. The chromaticity and reflectance of the patina in the context of the corrosion products indicate that copper trihydroxychloride, which is commonly found in a single color in marine environments, was produced early in the corrosion experiment. Furthermore, the corrosion of bronze had different effects on the alloying elements, contrary to pure copper corrosion. The chloride patina formed a single patina layer of copper trihydroxychlorides. This patina layer was divided into the outer porous powder and inner uniform layers. Furthermore, the interaction of oxygen in the atmosphere with the corrosion layer and internal oxidation of tin in the alloy promoted powdering. These results provide important basic data for research on sculpture conservation and corrosion characteristics, such as changes in color, chemical composition, and corrosion products on the patina surfaces of outdoor bronze sculptures. Full article
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18 pages, 9562 KiB  
Article
Non-Invasive Characterization of Maiolica Layer Structure by Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging
by Rosarosa Manca, Laura Chiarantini, Edoardo Tartaglia, Francesco Soldovieri, Costanza Miliani and Ilaria Catapano
Coatings 2023, 13(7), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13071268 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1152
Abstract
The characterization of the layered structure is of paramount importance for the study of maiolica wares (tin-glazed pottery). This paper presents the potentialities of Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) as a tool to perform non-invasive stratigraphic analysis of the maiolica objects under test. Samples [...] Read more.
The characterization of the layered structure is of paramount importance for the study of maiolica wares (tin-glazed pottery). This paper presents the potentialities of Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) as a tool to perform non-invasive stratigraphic analysis of the maiolica objects under test. Samples with different types of stratigraphy, as testified by preliminary SEM-EDS analysis, were investigated by THz-TDI in laboratory conditions. The collected THz data were processed by means of noise filtering procedures and a time-of-flight-based imaging approach and the achieved results corroborate the ability to identify glaze layers, whose electromagnetic properties, i.e., the refraction index and the dielectric permittivity value, were estimated by taking into account both THz-TDI and SEM-EDS data. However, layers applied over the white glaze (namely, a transparent overglaze and a luster decoration) were not detected, probably since their thickness is below the range resolution of the adopted THz-TDI system. Morphological features hidden under the surface were also identified and they provided information about the manufacturing technique. Full article
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14 pages, 4517 KiB  
Article
Bilayer Coating Composed of Starch and Methyl Cellulose-Nanoscale TiO2 for the Protection of Historic Paper from UV
by Gabriela Aleksić, Tomislav Cigula, Marina Vukoje and Katarina Itrić Ivanda
Coatings 2023, 13(5), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13050899 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2053
Abstract
Among the agents of deterioration considered particularly damaging to cultural heritage objects are light, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared. The high-energy UV is the most damaging of the three, as it can cause irreversible visual, chemical and structural changes in cellulose-based materials. Known for [...] Read more.
Among the agents of deterioration considered particularly damaging to cultural heritage objects are light, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared. The high-energy UV is the most damaging of the three, as it can cause irreversible visual, chemical and structural changes in cellulose-based materials. Known for its photocatalytic properties, TiO2 can absorb UV and is thermally and chemically stable. In this study, we propose an innovative bilayer coating composed of starch, methyl cellulose and nano-TiO2 to utilize UV blocking properties of TiO2. The results of the treatments were assessed by determining physical, optical and surface properties, as well as the degradation degree of the samples, prior and post accelerated ageing. The results show that an increase in the weight concentration of TiO2 enhances the colour difference, but the colour of samples coated by lower concentrations of TiO2 after accelerated ageing is closer to the original value than the colour of the uncoated ones. An increase in both the contact angle and the absorption time is also present, but after ageing, both parameters significantly decrease due to the presence of TiO2. To conclude, the presented nanocomposite coating can protect historic paper from UV, but one should bear in mind that a higher weight concentration could lead to a higher water sensitivity after exposure to UV. Full article
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