1. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
E x e r c i s e 5.C
Advanced Course
Module 5 Monitoring & Maintenance
Topic 5.1 To Monitor or not to Monitor, that is the question!
Solution of Exercise 5.C
Hands on materials: Macro & Micro-world observations
Authors: Prof. Guido Biscontin, Dr. Francesca Caterina Izzo, Prof. Elisabetta Zendri, Ms. Laura Falchi- Ca’
Foscari University of Venice
Exercise 5.C part 1
Question: Link the following macro image of building material with the correspondent micro images
Correct answer: C.
Image A is a 15X images of a cement mortar.
Image B is a 20X images of a brick.
Image C is a 20X images of Lecce Stone.
Exercise 5.C part 2
Effects of conservative treatments
Questions:
1. Give a brief description of the two surfaces, before and after the treatment.
2. What do you notice? How is the appearance of the surfaces?
3. Has the colour changed after the treatment? In your opinion, is it acceptable?
A) Brick: consolidation treatment with silicate
1. Before the treatment the surface is rough, pale red coloured and seems dusty. After the treatment the
surface is brilliant and brighter and it looks wet. The surface remains rough after the treatment.
2. The second surface is brighter than the first one.
3. Yes, it has. This change is not acceptable, because the surface colours is brighter and materials looks wet
after the treatment. This could be considered a damage of the material from the aesthetical point of view.
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2. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
E x e r c i s e 5.C
B) Gypsum: consolidation treatment with a silicate
1. The surface before the treatment is smooth, white and compact, with a very homogeneous texture, while
after the treatment it is possible to observe a layer of consolidant product on the surface, with glassy
aspect and a lot of cracks (craqueleure).
2. It is possible to notice the presence of the consolidant and this layer is not homogeneous.
3. The colour does not significantly change, but the general aspect does, so it is not an acceptable treatment
from the aesthetical point of view.
C) Natural hydraulic mortar: consolidation treatment with an acrylic resin
1. Both the surfaces are rough, with a high porosity, and is it possible to observe different aggregates linked
by a white matrix. After the treatment it is possible to observe a layer of consolidant around the pore
walls.
2. The first surface seems dusty, the second one is covered by a plastic layer.
3. The colour does not change after the treatment and the consolidant is able to cover, but this layer of
acrylic resin is quite not acceptable.
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