Thanks to the participation of the University of Vigo in the ERASMUS HERDADE consortium led by the Escola Superior de Conservación e Restauración de Bens Culturais de Galicia, the LASERING-PH researcher Gonzalo B. Bruneti, has made a research stay at the Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) in Lisbon (Portugal), between 2023-04-19 and 2023-05-18 (30 days).
There, with Professor Amelia Dionisio, they deposited soot from the exhaust pipes of cars with diesel engines on the samples, trying to reproduce polluting deposits like those found in any artwork outdoor exposed. Afterwards, they were introduced into a climatic chamber that simulates temperature and humidity conditions similar to those in a mild winter: 18ºC and 80 RH% in order to facilitate the sulfation processes. In addition, SO2 gas is introduced into the chamber at a dosage of 200 ppm. This gas is found in areas with road traffic and industrial activity. The samples remain under these conditions for 20 days. The laser will then be used as a cleaning tool.
Finally, another batch of samples will be studied to verify its behavior under the action of fire, simulating the circumstances that could occur in a fire. For this reason, the samples will be placed in ovens under two temperature conditions: 300 and 600ºC.
During the stay at the IST, in addition, collaborations have been carried out to assess the state of conservation of the minerals and fossils in the museum located in the Pavilhão de Minas of the IST, painting workshops with the teaching staff of this instiutiton and talks on socialization and dissemination with children in the Pavilhão de Conhecimiento-Ciência Viva in Parque das Nações.
