ISSC 2013 – Hobart, Tasmania (no specific theme)

Degradation and Conservation of Venetian Buildings: Our School as the Laboratory.

The study deals with the issues concerning the main building materials used in Venice, about the physical, chemical and biological degradation that affects them, and the possible remedies. As the Liceo “Marco Foscarini” was a former monastery back in the middle ages, it was chosen for observations and analysis. Some samples of the salts exuded by efflorescence on the walls of the deconsecrated church of St. Caterina were taken. The analysis, made in the school laboratory, underlined the presence of ions typical of salty-water environments, and confirmed the phenomenon of rising water and incrustation in the lagoon buildings. In addition, the examination of the floors of St. Caterina church demonstrated the corrosive and erosive actions of water and humidity. Regarding the possible remedies, the application of a particular detergent and protective solution was considered. Furthermore, the metal materials degradation was studied in the ancient physics instruments of the A.M.Traversi Physics Museum hosted in the school.