Papers by Vasilike Argyropoulos
Heritage
The research shows the benefits provided by the use of electrochemical treatment, with the applic... more The research shows the benefits provided by the use of electrochemical treatment, with the application of impressed current combining the use of a porous medium for the dechlorination of large iron structures removed and/or located in the marine environment. Considering the previous work for the dechlorination of the paddle wheel of the shipwreck “Patris”, located in the Aegean Sea, this study aims to determine the optimum parameters of the amount of current density, the time and the use of the porous medium to stimulate the chloride ion diffusion into an alkaline solution. Specimens of wrought iron coming from the shipwreck were electrochemically treated and the efficiency of the method was verified by the determination of the chloride concentration removal using a chloride ion selective electrode. Samples of corrosion products before and after treatment were analyzed for chloride content using SEM-EDX analysis. The results found that changing the porous medium every 24 h with repl...
Conference presentation titled: Saving a Marine Iron Paddle Wheel Removed from the 1868 Steam Eng... more Conference presentation titled: Saving a Marine Iron Paddle Wheel Removed from the 1868 Steam Engine Shipwreck 'Patris' during an Economic Crisis in Greece
A survey of the types of corrosion inhibitors and protective coatings used for the conservation of metal objects from museum collections in the Mediterranean basin
The Introduction of Open and Free Academic Courses in Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Greece
CeROArt, 2014
The 4-year Bachelor Degree in Conservation-Restoration at the Technological Educational Institute... more The 4-year Bachelor Degree in Conservation-Restoration at the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens has the difficult task of preparing its students to become professional Conservator-Restorers with knowledge and skills in six specializations of either archaeological (objects) conservation or in conservation works of art. Thus, the academic staff of the Department has the challenge to prepare its students to be qualified in practice and knowledge of many specializations of conservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) within its 4 year program. To meet this demand, many members of the academic staff are participating in a project co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund) called ‘Open Academic Courses’ (2013-2015). The goal is to prepare their course material in Greek as freely accessible digital educational content in the form of thirteen PowerPoint lectures with or without video lectures per course offered via the open source eLearning platform ‘Open eClass’ hosted by the TEI of Athens. The paper describes how the courses were prepared, the challenges involved in its preparation, as well as the benefits to the students.
The role of standards in conservation methods for metals in cultural heritage
Corrosion and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Metallic Artefacts, 2013
Abstract: This chapter discusses the importance of using standards in conservation methodology an... more Abstract: This chapter discusses the importance of using standards in conservation methodology and practice for cultural heritage (CH) metals. The past general trend in the field is the use of metal industry standards. The chapter surveys the relevant scientific publications, and concludes that conservation researchers use a variety of these standards adopted by different organisations. As a result, it can be difficult to compare scientific data for CH metal studies carried out by different laboratories. The chapter discusses the necessity to draft new standards for metals specific for CH by examining how three independent researchers had different findings when testing the same coating. The role of CEN/TC 346 ‘Conservation of Cultural Heritage’ is also discussed.
Importance of in-situ EDXRF Measurements in the Preservation and Conservation of Material Culture
X-rays for Archaeology
... on wall paintings and ceramics as well as gold and bronze alloys on sculpture and jewelry. ..... more ... on wall paintings and ceramics as well as gold and bronze alloys on sculpture and jewelry. ... portable EDXRF instruments in the characterization of the colored pigments, medium and plaster of a ... ochre's was ground before use to a fine powder and then mixed with lime in variable ...
Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy, 2005
Depth profile analysis by means of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was investigated w... more Depth profile analysis by means of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was investigated with respect to its potential to measure the thickness of different types of thin organic films used as protective coatings on historical and archaeological metal objects. For the materials examined, acrylic varnish and microcrystalline wax, the output from a nanosecond ArF excimer laser at 193 nm was found appropriate for performing a reliable profiling of the coating films leading to accurate determination of the coating thickness on the basis of the number of laser pulses required to penetrate the coating and on the ablation etch rate of the corresponding coating material under the same irradiation conditions. Nanosecond pulses at 248 nm proved inadequate to profile the coatings because of their weak absorption at the laser wavelength. In contrast, femtosecond irradiation at 248 nm yielded well-resolved profiles as a result of efficient ablation achieved through the increased non-linear absorption induced by the high power density of the ultrashort pulses.
Laser Chemistry, 2006
This paper is focused on the systematic investigation of the layer-by-layer removal of corrosion ... more This paper is focused on the systematic investigation of the layer-by-layer removal of corrosion products on artificially corroded metal coupons aiming to introduce a methodology for the optimum laser cleaning approach of historical metal objects. Thus, it is very important to determine the chemical composition of the studied surfaces before and after irradiation. A series of laser cleaning studies has been performed on test coupons (reference and artificially corroded). Wavelength and pulse duration effects are investigated. Initial studies were focused on the use of infrared (1064 nm) and ultraviolet (355 nm and 248 nm) radiations of nanosecond (ns) pulse duration. Damage and removal threshold values were determined for the substrates and the corrosion layers, respectively. The irradiated surfaces are evaluated microscopically under the optical and the scanning electron microscope, while the mineralogical and chemical composition of the various layers is determined with X-ray diff...
Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2013
Selected copper alloy artefacts from the collection of the Umm Qais museum at Irbid, Jordan, were... more Selected copper alloy artefacts from the collection of the Umm Qais museum at Irbid, Jordan, were studied by SEM-EDS analysis, while in situ analyses were performed by means of portable-XRF and LIBS spectrometers. Analysis and characterization of base metal and corrosion products of the copper alloyed artefacts were performed in relation to the environmental conditions of the display and as part of the overall assessment of the museum environment. Findings of this study are directed towards guiding a preventive conservation strategy for the copper alloyed artefacts at the Umm Qais museum.
CULTURAL …, 2007
International scientific projects in the field of cultural heritage have received European fundin... more International scientific projects in the field of cultural heritage have received European funding for more than twenty years. Though the financial support may not always have been as high as we would have liked, major results have been achieved with the help of researchers from many countries and a combination of national and European programmes. The European Conferences on cultural heritage research have become regular milestones on the never-ending journey of discovery in the search for new knowledge. They also provide opportunities to make a brief review of the results, and to draw new inspiration. The programme prepared for this conference included 83 oral presentations and 134 poster and demonstration stands, reflecting the rich background and wide scope of our work. Nearly 300 delegates from 37 countries in the world attended the conference, which supported free participation of students presenting the outcomes of their research work. This Conference was held just before the final negotiations in the European Parliament and the Council on the 7 th Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities in the next seven years. The programme therefore included themes aimed at enhancing and strengthening our common endeavour to create necessary and efficient conditions for future research on issues of cultural heritage.
Les opinions exprimées dans la présente publication sont celles des auteurs et ne reflètent pas n... more Les opinions exprimées dans la présente publication sont celles des auteurs et ne reflètent pas nécessairement celles de la rédaction ou de l'ACCR.
The feasibility of using portable X-Ray radiography for the examination of the technology and the condition of a metals collection housed in the Museum of …
VII Conference of Art …
Most museums in Greece with metals collections cannot undertake the necessary examination of thei... more Most museums in Greece with metals collections cannot undertake the necessary examination of their objects by X-Ray Radiography, because there are limited funds to purchase such an in-house system, and the laws for the management of cultural heritage in Greece does ...
Characterization of a Water-Dispersible Metal Protective Coating with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and Ellipsometry
Applied Spectroscopy, 2012
An ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, formulated by BASF as a waterborne suspension of its alky... more An ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, formulated by BASF as a waterborne suspension of its alkylammonium salt and used, among other applications, in art conservation as a temporary protective coating was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy aided by modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and ellipsometry. The thermal conversion of thin copolymer films from the freshly applied state, where carboxylic acid and carboxylate ion functional groups co-exist, to a purely acidic working state was spectroscopically followed. Transmission mid-infrared data of the working state showed a 1 : 12 ratio of methacrylic acid towards ethylene units. The glass transition temperature ( Tg) in the same state was found at 45 °C. Copolymer films spin-coated on mechanically polished bronze and iron coupons were characterized with transflection infrared spectroscopy and compared to corresponding transmission mid-infrared spectra of copolymer films spin-coated on s...
Corrosion Science, 2009
Although the corrosion of outdoor bronzes has been extensively studied for the last decades, ther... more Although the corrosion of outdoor bronzes has been extensively studied for the last decades, there is no quantitative correlation of corrosion products to microclimatic factors. The present work aims to demonstrate how Principal Component Analysis (PCA) can serve this purpose. Thirty corrosion product samples were collected from the bronze monument of Theodoros Kolokotronis (Nafplio, Greece) and analysed using X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD). The quantitative XRD data together with data on surface orientation and exposure to rain or wind were treated by PCA and three distinct groups were found. Each group includes samples of similar composition and microclimate characteristics showing that PCA may give useful information on corrosion mechanisms.
In situ scanning micro-XRF analyses of gilded bronze figurines at the National Museum of Damascus
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2015
Scanning micro-XRF analyses were applied in situ at the National Museum of Damascus in Syria for ... more Scanning micro-XRF analyses were applied in situ at the National Museum of Damascus in Syria for an analytical study of three unique gilded bronze figurines.
Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies, 2014
Many museum educational programs and exhibitions worldwide, designed to communicate to the public... more Many museum educational programs and exhibitions worldwide, designed to communicate to the public the importance of archaeology, adopt a treasure hunt approach often inspired by emblematic mass culture figures, such as Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. Alternatively they organize exhibitions on the identification of fakes in the spirit of TV series such as X-files or CSI. These programs usually avoid dealing with a fundamental issue in archaeological practice, which pertains to the paramount importance of context and the scientific consequences of its destruction through, among others, the illicit trade of antiquities. The hesitation in promoting this sensitive topic may be due to the fact that many objects in major museum collections are often unprovenanced. Although the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums (2006, section 4.5) advises against displaying material of questionable origin, most museums do host such antiquities. The paper explores how museums can begin to discuss the issue of context using the materials produced by the European Culture project Witness the Past (WTP): film documentaries or educational kits and related activities aimed at children on the topic of the importance of context and the destructive effects of the illicit trade of antiquities. The WTP project was implemented in three European museums as well as in Egypt and Jordan.
Microorganisms in the Deterioration and Preservation of Cultural Heritage
In the last decade, there has been an increase in research related to green corrosion inhibitors ... more In the last decade, there has been an increase in research related to green corrosion inhibitors for conservation of metals cultural heritage to help promote sustainable practices in the field that are safe, environmentally friendly, and ecologically acceptable. The most common are organic substances derived either from natural and/or biological sources: plant extracts and oils, amino acids, microorganisms, and biopolymers. The chapter will provide a review of these substances as corrosion inhibitors for metals conservation, by discussing the state-of-the-art research to date, with a special focus on cysteine. Most of the research has focused on the examination of such inhibitors on metal coupons with or without corrosion products using electrochemical techniques or weight-loss measurements to determine their effectiveness. Some of these studies have also considered the conservation principles for practice, i.e., reversibility of the treatment and the visual aspect of the modificati...
O Museu Criminal é o ùnico do seu tipo na Grècia. Foi fundado pela Escola de Medicina Forense da ... more O Museu Criminal é o ùnico do seu tipo na Grècia. Foi fundado pela Escola de Medicina Forense da Universidade de Atenas em 1933 e possui urna colecçâo de peças do século XX relacionadas com crimes infâmes e violaçôes. Durante largos anos, o Museu enfrentou sérios problemas relacionados com o estado de conservaçâo das colecçôes e desajustamento da exposiçâo. Em 1999, a Escola de Medicina Forense estabeleceu um protocolo de colaboraçâo com 0 Departamento de Conservaçâo de Antiguidades e Obras de Arte do Institute Tècnico e de Educaçâo de Atenas por forma a memorar a qualidade gérai das instalaçôes. Este artigo descreve as principais medidas de conservaçâo e de intervençâo tomadas durante o processo.
Heritage
Fatal events taking place in World War (WW) I and II have left behind important historical eviden... more Fatal events taking place in World War (WW) I and II have left behind important historical evidence as an underwater cultural heritage (UCH) (e.g., shipwrecks, submerged aircraft, war artifacts), lying in peace at the bottom of, among others, the Mediterranean Sea. The article aims at exploring the challenges for UCH protection/preservation and sustainable exploitation with emphasis on this sea. UCH is so far dealt with in a “silo” approach by marine archaeologists or heritage professionals, who often ignore its potential for serving local sustainable development goals. The paper elaborates on the value, but also the complexity, multi- and inter-disciplinary as well as multi-actors’ nature of UCH management and sustainable exploitation, perceiving these as a “wicked” planning problem. It attempts to illuminate various important dimensions of this problem, such as its glocal (global/local) context; the conflicting and, in certain cases, inconsistent UCH legal protection framework, to...
Dechlorination of large marine iron artifact using a novel technique involving impressed current
Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, 2015
Purpose – This paper aims to develop an electrochemical dechlorination method for large objects i... more Purpose – This paper aims to develop an electrochemical dechlorination method for large objects in a short time, which were for a long time in the sea. Traditionally, in conservation, chlorides are extracted from marine iron artifacts using complete immersion of those objects in alkaline solutions with or without electrolysis. However, these techniques are time-consuming and very costly, especially when applied to large marine artifacts such as cannons and anchors. Design/methodology/approach – An appropriate sponge was chosen based on resistance to NaOH and the rate of exacted chlorides. Application of electrochemical dechlorination in situ and removal of chloride were measured by the scanning electron microscope (SEM)-EDAX method on the corrosion products and by titration of the electrolysis solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) method is used for identification of corrosion products before and after application of electrochemical chloride extraction. Findings – The electrochemical ch...
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Papers by Vasilike Argyropoulos