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CPP-LRMH - Cercle des Partenaires du Patrimoine - Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques, Champs-sur-Marne (France)
The Historical Monuments Research Laboratory (LRMH) is a national public service linked to the Architecture and Heritage department (Ministry of Culture and Communication). The LRMH activities are devoted to studies and research on conservation of buildings, artefacts and objects which are listed as “Historical Monuments”. It works in partnership with architects, curators and conservators within the frame of the preliminary studies, restoration work or scientific surveys. It is composed of 38 permanent staff members (geologists, chemists, microbiologists, materials engineers…). Its research fields are the main materials of the cultural heritage (stone, stained glass, mural paintings, rock paintings, polychromes on wood and stone, metal, concrete, textiles, wood), the causes and mechanisms of degradation, the treatments applied to deteriorated monuments and artworks, and the environmental indoor and outdoor conservation conditions.
The scientific equipment of the laboratory allows numerous analyses:
• observation of artefacts and degradation by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope;
• chemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, infra-red spectrometry, chromatography (HPLC, GCMS, and Ion chromatography), SEM-EDS, X-ray diffraction, Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy;
• mechanical, optical and petrophysical measurements (dynamometer, colorimetry, Hg intrusion porosimetry, capillarity measurements);
• artificial weathering of materials and chemicals for restoration;
• microbiological analyses;
• in situ diagnosis methods: environmental measurements (temperature, RH...), ultrasonic measurements, rebars location, potential and Rp measurements;
• data acquisition and remote processing for environmental data.
Several studies devoted to the impact of the environment on materials are performed by the Cercle des Partenaires du Patrimoine, which is a non profit making organization linked to the LRMH, and located in the same premises. During the 5 past years they have gradually developed an expertise in the field of natural cements as within the frame of the CPP, 2 national projects were dedicated to the study of monuments made of concrete from the middle to the end of 19th century in the French Rhône-Alpes region, cradle of the French cement industry.
Publications particularly relevant to ROCARE include
1. Un matériau novateur utilisé à la cathédrale de Bourges au XIXe siècle : le “ciment romain”, Monumental, semestriel 1, 2006, Paris, p. 96-99.
2. Les ciments naturels moulés en Rhône-Alpes et leurs altérations, Monumental, semestriel 1, 2006, Paris, p. 104-111.
3. Study of natural cements from the french Rhône-Alpes region, Heritage, Weathering and conservation, Proceedings of the international conference HWC-2006, 21-24 June 2006, Madrid, Spain, vol. I, p. 77-84.
4. Carbonation and historical buildings made of concrete, Journal de physique IV, vol. 136, November 2006, p. 305-318.
Role in the project
The principal role of CPP-LRMH within ROCARE will be within the characterisation of historic Roman cement mortars and related building materials within field tests and demonstration works of the Tasks 2.2 and 3.5. This will be achieved through petrographic and mineralogical analysis along with measurements of e.g. adhesion properties to the substrate.
Further on, CPP-LRMH will organise and co-ordinate the French representative(s) to the EAP- advisory panel and assist in spreading information about the project to the community in charge of cultural heritage.
