Active-phase-coated metallic supports as structured catalysts are gaining attention in endothermic and exothermic processes because they improve heat transfer. The deposition of a well-adhered and stable catalyst layer on the metallic support constitutes an important feature for the successful application of the fi nal material. In this work, coating of FeCrAlY foams is performed by a one-step electrosynthesis-deposition of hydrotalcite-type compounds, precursors of catalysts active in endothermic steam methane reforming. The catalysts are studied at different length scales by using, for the fi rst time, a combination of several techniques: SEM/EDS and X-ray fl uorescence, X-ray powder diffraction and absorption-tomography experiments on the micro-and nanoscales at a synchrotron facility. The results show that the morphology of the coating depends on the synthesis conditions and that the catalyst may be described as Ni metal crystallites dispersed on γ -Al 2 O 3 , homogeneously coating the FeCrAlY foam.

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Cultural heritage materials are subject to continuous chemical and physical changes depending on the establishment of a dynamic equilibrium with the environment in which they are placed. In particular, different phenomena can take place, such as formation of black crusts, corrosion of the material, internal cracks.Lecce stone, a biocalcarenite mainly used for historical buildings in South Italy, has a high total porosity. In order to prevent its deterioration, different kinds of hydrophobic organic products are applied on the surface of the restored artefacts. Since the efficacy of the treatments depends mostly on the penetration depth and the distribution of the products in the pores, porosity and internal structure of the stone material were mainly investigated in this research. Micro x-ray computed tomography (µ-CT) has been used to study and characterize the internal structure of different samples, untreated and treated with protective products. The porosity and other parameters of the rock were then calculated and compared, before and after the conservation treatment, in order to highlight the changes due to the application of the product.On the other hand, small pieces of the untreated and treated samples were analysed by sub-micron resolution x-ray tomography where it was possible to see the distribution of the products inside the pores.

Calcareous stones have been largely used to build historical buildings. Among these, the calcarenites are usually characterized by a high content of calcite and a high open porosity, which make them very sensitive to the weathering caused by physical and chemical agents. In order to prevent their deterioration and to retard their decay, different protective products-mainly polymers-are applied on the stone artefact surfaces. In this work we apply the methodology tested in a preliminary study to investigate the morphological changes of the internal structure of a biocalcarenite (Lecce stone) by micro x-ray computed tomography (micro-CT). The porosity and other morphological parameters of the rock before and after the conservation treatment were calculated on a significant number of samples. The Student's t test was applied for statistical comparison. The results reveal that the treatment with Paraloid B72 (PB 72) is homogenously distributed and causes small changes to the natural properties of the rock, whereas the application of a fluoroelastomer (NH) causes an appreciable decrease in porosity and variation in terms of wall thickness distribution, probably resulting from its inhomogeneous distribution.