Bridging the Gap: Corrosion Science For Heritage Contexts (European Federation of Corrosion (EFC) Series, Volume 73) - Hardcover

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

Delphine Neff is a research director at the NIMBE/LAPA. She develops research projects on understanding the transformation of ancient corrosion layers during desalination treatments as well as their interaction with organic compounds applied as protective coatings. She’s a member of the French society CEFRACOR and a member of the EFC STAC and chairwoman of the WP21 on ‘historical and archaeological artefacts”.

Sabrina Grassini is Associate Professor of Applied Physical Chemistry at the Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy. Her main research works are devoted to Conservation of Cultural Heritage: studies of degradation processes on metallic artifacts and development of tailored strategies for restoration and conservation; she also develops studies on innovative plasma technologies for protection of metallic artifacts. She is member of the Italian Association of Metallurgy and Secretary of the EFC Working Party 21-Corrosion of Archaeological and Historical Artifacts.

David Watkinson began his career as an object conservator working in museums and then specialising in archaeological material as a practical conservator at Cardiff University. He later moved into teaching and research where he developed as a heritage metals corrosion scientist with a particular interest in designing research that informs and evidences conservation practice and management strategies. He works with museums and heritage bodies to answer specific problems related to treatment, storage and display of heritage metal objects and supervises a PhD cohort engaged in researching these topics. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Vice-President of EFC Working Party 21 'Corrosion of Archaeological and Historical Artefacts', a former Council member of the International Institute for Conservation and a past Chair of the Institute of Conservation Archaeology Section. He was awarded the Plowden Medal for his services to conservation research in 2010 in recognition of his work on preservation strategies for the SS Great Britain.

Nicola Emmerson is a conservation scientist who researches and teaches conservation at Cardiff University. Trained as an object conservator, her focus is on investigating corrosion prevention methods for heritage iron and copper alloys, from protective coatings to desalination and desiccated storage and display. She is the Director of a UKRI-funded conservation and heritage science research facility established to examine the impact of environments on the decay of heritage materials. Within the wider heritage sector, she is the Coordinator of the International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation Metals Working Group (2023-26) and Chair of the Institute of Conservation Metals Group Committee. Nicola has been involved in the activities of EFC Working Party 21 since 2012 and is a regular contributor to their sessions at the annual European Corrosion Congress.

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Conservation practitioners seek predictable and successful procedures and treatments for controlling corrosion of heritage metals that conform to aesthetic and ethical boundaries set by prevailing cultural, historical, and archaeological contexts. Understanding metallic corrosion and its prevention is informed by scientific research provided by heritage scientists, conservators themselves and, to a lesser extent, corrosion scientists who may be in academia or industry.

Bridging the Gap: Corrosion Science For Heritage Contexts explores the decision-making processes for preserving heritage metals and examines the collaborative, interdisciplinary relationships that underpin them.

Through themed chapters, the book is designed to develop and strengthen collaboration between these three groups of professionals, creating a synergy that benefits research and practice for the preservation of heritage metals. It builds an overview of metals conservation across a broad range of heritage contexts, from indoor museum displays to fixed outdoor structures and moving objects. Researchers and practitioners provide critical insights into corrosion problems within heritage, current corrosion mitigation procedures and the evidence supporting best practice guidance.

The book will be a valuable reference resource for corrosion and corrosion protection scientists; heritage preservation scientists; conservation practitioners and students studying preservation of cultural objects.