Special Session 4

Conservation of metallic artifacts or archaeological and historic interest is based on the concept of preventive conservation, taking into account that the degradation phenomena cannot be avoided and the aging processes are the result of the interaction with the environment which surrounds the artifacts. According to the Conservation Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-CC) preventive conservation is defined as “all measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimizing future damages”. Non-invasive diagnostic techniques and measurements are, therefore, very important tools for restorers and art historians to obtain trustworthy information on the artifact conservation state, on the degradation mechanism affecting the artifact as a function of the environment in which it is exposed and of the stability of the restoration treatment. This information is essential for the development of the most appropriate methodology for ensuring a long-lasting preservation of these important witnesses of the human culture.

In detail the main topics will be:

• Measurement techniques for studying the corrosion behavior of metallic artifacts;
• Non-invasive diagnostic techniques for in situ measurements and long-time monitoring;
• Eco-friendly and sustainable methodologies for preventive conservation;
• Measurements and sensors for environmental monitoring.

Sabrina Grassini was born in Italy in 1972. She received her M.S. degree in Chemistry from the Università di Torino, Italy, and her Ph.D. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Currently she is assistant professor in Applied Physical Chemistry with Politecnico di Torino. Her researcher areas include plasma chemistry and reversible coating deposition, sensors for microclimate and environmental monitoring, corrosion and protection of metallic materials and conservation of the cultural heritage.

Panayota Vassiliou is full professor of Chemical Engineering at the School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. She is member of the International Corrosion Council. Her main research interest are: corrosion and protection of materials for industrial and biomedical applications; electrochemical measurements for the study of the corrosion mechanism of metals and alloys; conservation of cultural heritage.