CHEMISTRY OF ARCHIVAL AND LIBRARY MATERIALS

In the framework of the course, this teaching is devoted to a better comprehension of the material aspects of the archive and library patrimony, also with respect to a better valorization and safeguard. No previous knowledge in chemistry is taken, and the subject is gradually developed from the rudiments, providing students with the minimal tools for a chemical understanding of the archive and library materials and their degradation processes.

At the end of the educational path, students will have a basic knowledge of the chemical compounds characterizing archival materials (paper, parchment, glues, inks, pigments…), the chemical reactions involved in degradation phenomena, the chemico-physical parameters, which change during degradation, and the causes triggering these phenomena.

Since teaching starts from chemistry fundamentals, there is no need for prerequisites.

Chemistry fundamentals

Classical atom structure. Chemical elements and compounds. Lewis formulas. Chemical reactions. What is a chemical reaction and how to represent it. Acid-base reactions. Acid/base definition. Concentration of a chemical species. Concentration of H+ (hydrogenionic concentrations). Concentration of OH-. pH definition. The pHmeter. Oxidation number of an element in a compound. Redox reactions. Biomolecules. Main functional groups. Biomolecule reactions. Biopolymers.

Chemistry of archive materials

Paper: origin, manufacture, chemical structure. Parchment: origin, manufacture, chemical structure. Writing media: iron-gall inks, inorganic pigments, vegetal colourants, lakes. Paper and parchment degradation. The role of pH, metals and glues in degradation. Iron-gall ink acidity: self-degradation and support degradation. Corrosive pigments: copper greens, iron salts, Lewis acidic and redox-active ions. Environmental parameters in degradation: the role of temperature, relative humidity, light, oxygen, atmosphere pollutants

Lessons slides

Students will be asked to perform a short multiple-choice test and will present a short report on a subject related to the chemistry of archival materials (1-2 pages).

Lessons will be held online while recording, and will be available to the students on the Moodle platform. Self-evaluation tests of competences will be available in the midterm through Moodle platform.

Italian

Course time: every thursday, 10:30-13.00 am, starting from march, 2nd, thursday, online through Zoom. Zoom link is accessible for students with Unive credentials from the Moodle platform.

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