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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!
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
Objective
This activity is meant to help students to notice the differences between “macro
and micro” observations of building materials and understand how they can change
after conservative treatments. In Conservation Science Laboratories, the first
analysis, which is performed to monitor the state of health of Cultural Heritage, is
the observation with naked-eye and by using microscopes.
Introduction
“Monitoring means determination of the most relevant indexes for the correct
evaluation of the use of innovative methodologies or new products”.
Simple instruments, e.g. optical microscopes, could help the Conservator Scientist
to investigate the appearance of the materials obtaining a piece of information in
the understanding and the reconstruction of the materials state of health. But the micro-world can be very
different from the macro-world, and the observations of micro-world can lead to amazing discoveries!
Guidelines
Exercise 5.C should be done after the Topic 5.1 of the Module 5 “Monitoring and Maintenance”.
Duration: 30 minutes
Type of activity: This activity can be done also as homework, but it is important to discuss the results and the
observations done at home in the classroom under the guidance of the teacher.
Before the activity: Prepare copies of the exercise with the list of question and of the photos that the students
should observe.
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2. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
E x e r c i s e 5.C
Expected results
The students should gain a better knowledge of how a building and-or historical material can differently appear
going from the normal observations (by naked-eye) to the micro observations (by microscopes).
Exercise 5.C part 1. Link the following macro image of Lecce stone (a kind of limestone) with one of
the correspondent micro images displayed in figures A, B and C. Which is the correct one?
Surface of Lecce stone
A B C
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3. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
E x e r c i s e 5.C
Exercise 5.C part 2. Have a look of the effects of conservative treatments on a brick (A), gypsum (B)
and a mortar (C). Choose one of the examples and then answer the following questions.
(A) Brick: consolidation treatment with a silicate
Before treatment After treatment
(B) Gypsum: consolidation treatment with a silicate
Before treatment After treatment
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4. Educational Linkage Approach In Cultural Heritage
E x e r c i s e 5.C
(C) Natural hydraulic mortar: consolidation treatment with an acrylic resin
Before treatment After treatment
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?
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