Noah's Ark Project

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Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences -- ICSC (Poland)

The Institute is a medium-size public research unit active in the field of physical chemistry of interfacial phenomena and catalysis. Since 1986 one of the research areas has been the investigation of the structure and properties of historic materials, mechanisms of their deterioration, and measures to conserve and protect them. Special emphasis is laid on phenomena occurring at the material surfaces, such as interaction with moisture contained in the air, structural response of historic materials to changes in air parameters in their microenvironment, chemical corrosion, formation and crystallisation of soluble salts. The basic research has been linked to extensive case studies with focus on monitoring the microclimatic parameters and materials response in historic buildings and sites. ICSC is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to carry out the tasks assigned to it within the project.

Key Person:

Roman Kozlowski

graduated in chemistry at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, in 1970. He received his Ph.D. in 1974 and D.Sc. in 1989 at the same University. In 1974 he joined the scientific staff of the Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry (ICSC), Polish Academy of Sciences, in Cracow. He was Research Fellow at the University of Warwick, U.K., between 1980 - 1983. Since 1986, he has been head of research related to conservation science and protection of cultural heritage. Since 1989, he has been assistant professor at ICSC. He has broad experience as the principal investigator or co-ordinator in several international R&D projects. His research focuses on microclimatic monitoring, elucidating porosity structures of historic materials, their interaction with moisture, especially their dimensional response to changes in environmental moisture.

Participants

Lukasz Bratasz
Slawomir Jakiela
Svetlana Vasic
Antonina Kozlowska

Role in the project

To develop and apply the methodology of continuous monitoring of the response of sensitive historic materials to dynamic changes of climatic conditions in their environment.The methodology will comprise investigations under first static then dynamic conditions generated inside a climatic chamber, imitating short-term extreme climatic events. Models will be developed to calculate accompanying stresses and to predict deformation and mechanical failures of the materials.

Contact Information

Internet Address

http://atom.ik-pan.krakow.pl

Address

Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry
ul. Niezapominajek 8
30-239 Cracow
Poland

Phone:+48 12 6395 119
Fax:+48 12 4251923