Scanning Microscopy Techniques as an Assessment Tool of Materials and Interventions for the Protection of Built Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Scanning microscopy techniques have emerged as powerful scientific tools for analysing materials of architectural or archaeological interest, since the commercialization of the first scanning electron microscopy instrumentation in the early 60s. This study is aimed at reviewing and highlighting the significance of several scanning microscopy techniques employed in the protection of built heritage. The diffusion of scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (SEM-EDX) is proven to be the widest among the available scanning microscopy techniques, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) applications are steadily present in the field of built heritage protection. The building material characterization, the weathering mechanism investigation, and the development of compatible and performing conservation materials are some major research areas where the application of the aforementioned techniques is discussed. The range of techniques, along with aspects of instrumentation and sample preparation are, also, considered.

Architectural Heritage Conservation in Nigeria: The Need for Innovative Techniques

“…Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has the potential to characterize heritage materials, detect potential biodeteriogens, and shows the spatial distribution of potential surface biodeteriogens [25,31]. Characterization of the material gives an insight into the type of stone used (for stone building), groin compartment, and pore size, all of which determines the susceptibility of architectural heritage to deterioration [14,32].…”

“…Innovative technologies have been applied in the conservation of architectural heritage in developed countries with proven effectiveness [25,26]. Many of the techniques applied are non-destructive and are used for documentation, diagnostic, and treatment purposes.…”

Stone sustainable protection and preservation using a zein-based hydrophobic coating

“…Prior to imaging, the samples' surfaces were sputtered with a 10 nm thick film of gold (Cressington 208HR sputter coater, UK). SEM images were collected at different magnifications [51]. Surface roughness of the stone substrates before and after the application of the coating was investigated by 3D Optical Profilometry.…”

Técnicas analíticas para la caracterización de documentos: una revisión bibliográfica

“…Esta técnica utiliza un haz de electrones para formar una imagen acromática de hasta 300.000 aumentos [figura 1.c y d]. El haz de electrones es generado por el calentamiento de un filamento de tungsteno, volframio o hexaboruro de lantano, e irradiado sobre la muestra que se sitúa en una cámara al vacío (Matteini & Moles 2001), en la que también se sitúan los diversos detectores que generan la imagen utilizando las interacciones electrón-muestra (Goodhew, Humphreys & Beanland 2014;Moropoulou et al 2019). Esta técnica requiere de toma de muestras y ha sido empleada, por ejemplo, para el estudio de la morfología de la superficie del papel (Goltz et al 2010) o la presencia de biodeterioro (Pinzari, Pasquariello & De Mico 2006).…”