IATCS - Division of Conservation Sciences at the Institute of Art and | ROCARE

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IATCS - Division of Conservation Sciences at the Institute of Art and Technology, University of Applied Arts Vienna (Austria)

Together with two more divisions, IATCS emerged from the scientific unit of the former Institute of Conservation and Restoration-Technology which had been active in the field of scientific research on cultural heritage since the early 1980s. IATCS has a strong focus on mineral materials in historic sculpture and architecture. One of the main methodological emphases of the expertise lies in the use of microscopic and electron-optical methods in identifying and characterising historic materials as well as features of their deterioration and effects of conservation treatments. In this field, IATCS enjoys a national and international reputation reflected by publications and courses for students of conservation and restoration.
The IATCS has the following adequate equipment to carry out all its research tasks within the proposed project: a stereo microscope with reflected and transmitted light facilities and polarisers, a polarising microscope with reflected and transmitted light facilities, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with secondary electron (SE) and backscattered electron (BSE) detectors, with alternative function as environmental electron microscope (ESEM) to work at low vacuum conditions, an energy-dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX) connected to the SEM.

Role in the project

The institute will coordinate the project. Its main research work will be determining phase composition and microstructural feature of the clinkers produced within WP1 and mortars produced within WP2 using optical and scanning electron microscopy. These will be related to the known characteristics of historic cements and mortars. It will coordinate the activities of the Advisory Panel of the regulating institutions and work closely with other Austrian partners at the coordinated implementation of all research and dissemination activities.
Publications particularly relevant to ROCARE include (see also Partner 3):
(2007) Romanzemente als Fassadenbaustoffe der Gründerzeit, in: Bauinstandsetzen und Bauphysik, WTA-Almanach 2007, p. 539-562, Wien.
(2007) Roman Cement Mortars in Europe’s Architectural Heritage of the 19th Century, J. ASTM Int. 4 (8) Paper ID JAI100667.