back to overview
ICSC - Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (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, especially response of historic materials to changes in air parameters in their microenvironment using numerical modelling of climate-induced stress, acoustic emission, laser vibrometry, thermovision. The basic research has been linked to extensive case studies. The Institute coordinated the recent European Commission ROCEM project that has re-established manufacturing and use of Roman cements in conservation practice. ICSC is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to carry out the tasks assigned to it within the project including a mercury porosimeter, two vacuum microbalances for measuring adsorption of nitrogen and water vapour, powder X-ray diffractometer and the DTA-TG thermal analyser.
Publications particularly relevant to ROCARE include
(2007) Calcination of marls to produce Roman cement, Journal of the ASTM International, available online at http://journalsip.astm.org/journals/jai/pages/71.htm , 4, 1.
(2007) Hydration processes in pastes of several natural cements. Journal of the ASTM International, available online at http://journalsip.astm.org/journals/jai/pages/196.htm, 4, 2.
(2007) Microstructure and mineral composition of roman cements produced at defined calcination conditions. Mater Charact 58 1217-1228.
(2009) Roman cements – belite cements calcined at low temperature. Cem Concr Res 39 77-89.
(2009) Porosity and specific surface area of Roman cement pastes. Cem Concr Res 39 950-956.
Role in the Project
ICSC will be responsible for characterising pore structure of the Roman cement pastes and mortars prepared within WP2 using mercury intrusion porosimetry as a principal technique and determination of the specific surface area as an auxiliary method. Further, ICSC will coordinate all research and field activities aimed at elucidating the compatibility between the various repair materials developed (renders and various thin finish layers) and the historic substrate. The research will focus in particular on minimising the shrinkage cracking which is one of important barriers preventing broader acceptance of Roman cements as a cultural heritage material by the contemporary restoration and construction sector. It will support the Co-ordinator in the organisation and operation of the End-user Advisory Panel. It will work closely with other Polish partners at the coordinated implementation of the local dissemination activities. ICSC will co-ordinate WP3 - Dissemination and marketing.
