TECHNOLOGIES AND CONSERVATION OF GLASS PRODUCTS

The course aims to provide the student with the main notions on the structure, mechanical and physical properties, the main applications, processing technologies and glass degradation phenomena. Glass analysis techniques will also be deepened to characterize ancient artifacts and industrial products.
The educational objectives of the course are: a) to develop the basic knowledge about the structure and properties of glass since only through their knowledge, the glass conservation problem can be understand; b) develop analytical techniques knowledge to perform a scientific investigation on glass artifacts both in the archaeometric and in the industrial fields.

Provide basic knowledge about the structure and properties of glass. In addition, explain the main methods of industrial manufacture of glass products. After the course, student should be capable of knowing the properties of glass and applying appropriate investigation techniques both in the archaeometric field and in industrial production cycles and product development.

No pre-requirements. Knowledge of some basic inorganic chemistry topics is preferable, but not strictly necessary.

Glass: structure, classification and properties. Processing technologies and uses. Glass degradation (glass surface, acid and alkaline attack, weathering). Classification according to the glass matrix. History of glass.
Investigation techniques to study the properties of both ancient glassy artifacts (to obtain information on the chemical composition and advance hypotheses relating to the origin and provenance of raw materials and to investigate degradation phenomena) and industrial products (for example glass used in the pharmaceutical field and interaction with pharmaceutical processes and drug products).

- Shelby J.E. (2005) Introduction to Glass Science and Technology. The Royal Society and Chemistry.
- Locardi B. (1977) Aspetti chimico-fisici riguardanti la produzione del vetro in: Vetri - Quaderni di chimica applicata (Eds.) Scarinci G., Toninato T. and Locardi B., Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano (Italy).
- Janssens K. (ed) Modern Methods for Analyzing Archaeological and Historical Glass, 1st edn. JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester.
- Newton R. and Davison S. (1989). Conservation of Glass, Butterworths, 1st edn., London.

Learning will be verified by oral exam consisting of a series of questions regarding the program. The oral exam typically lasts about 30-40 minutes.

The course includes lectures with the help of slides. During the course seminars can be organized with subject matter experts able to deepen some topics of the course.

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development