AMPC

Analysis of Cultural Heritage Materials :

Research :

The objective of the group is to study materials of historic, archaeological, artistic and cultural heritage interest using chemical-analysis techniques and scientific equipment. Apart from determining the composition of the materials, it is possible to explain the chemical mechanisms involved in the processes of ageing and alteration, which is of considerable interest in the field of conservation and restoration, and to obtain information on production technologies, geographic origin, trade, etc. Another area of work involves reproducing antique materials not just to understand the production technology but also to produce reference standard materials. The group also performs laboratory studies to reproduce ageing and reaction processes.

The interest of the research is based on adapting techniques to the problems that arise and in optimizing analysis methods and on the use to which the results can be put in other fields of knowledge.

Research Lines :

  • Techniques and materials, reverse technology, alteration and conservation. From the Department of Chemical Engineering we carry out painting and polychrome subjects.

Study Materials :

  • Paints and polychrom of objects of historical and/or artistic interest: binders, pigments, reaction and degradation compounds in paints.


imatge ampc

           

Techniques used (includes own instruments and external equipment) :

  • Sample preparation (development of specific techniques for preparing especially complex samples)
  • Optical microscopy
  • Electron Microscopy, SEM-EDS, Focused Ion Beam Microscope (FIB/SEM)
  • Infrared spectroscopy
  • X-ray diffraction
  • X-ray fluorescence
  • Separation techniques

An important part of the research is based on making use of the advantages of different techniques associated with synchrotron light.

Infrared micro-spectroscopy equipment

Contacts :

SALVADOR BUTÍ PAPIOL

salvador.buti@upc.edu

NATIVITAT SALVADO CABRE

nativitat.salvado@upc.edu

Scientific output : 

https://futur.upc.edu/AMPC