After a previous interest in metals for industrial applications (steels for industrial plants), our research is now mainly related to the field of Cultural Heritage. The activity refers to degradation studies of bronzes for outdoor sculptures and also includes stones and related protective materials. The activities are financially supported by funds, obtained within European and National research programmes. In particular, we work within a European project (EUREKA), named "Bronzart", concerning metallic materials. The objectives are: selection of new bronze alloys with improved properties toward corrosion and evaluation of the behaviour of corrosion inhibitors. In this project IMC is part of an international network including Universities, Public and Private Research Institutes and a small-medium enterprise, an artistic foundry, which is interested in the market application of the project results. Project participants are: Leoben Universitaet (A), Technische Universitaet (A),Univ. of Ferrara (I), Joint Research Centre (EU), Atomki Institute (HU), SVUOM (CZ), International Atomic Energy Agency (A), Techminho (P) and the artistic foundry "Venturi Arte". The scientific contribution of IMC consists in application of different techniques: a)Nuclear techniques like production and use of radio isotopes, as tracers for corrosion monitoring (TLA). b) Surface analyses (AFM). c) Artificial ageing of metals. d) Electrochemical techniques.The IMC activity is also carried out in a National Research Programmes (FAR), named VAMP whose objective is the development of a portable instrument to determine the water vapour diffusion in stones. Water diffusion in stones is a problem which is not only related to the field of Cultural Heritage, where for example frescos have to be protected from damages, but also involves building materials. The University of Rome, enterprises producing protective materials for stones and small enterprises interested in development of scientific instruments are our partners in this project. The IMC is leader of the VAMP project. The scientific activity of IMC includes the use of isotopes for the study of water diffusion phenomena. Several techniques are applied, including mass spectrometry measurements.
Dr. Giuseppe Laguzzi
Chemical Methodologies Institute
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