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Materials
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Materials in Cultural Heritage: Analysis, Testing and Preservation (Second Edition)
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Materials in Cultural Heritage: Analysis, Testing and Preservation (Second Edition)

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Materials Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 1244

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Žiga Šmit

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Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2. Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: ion beam analysis; archaeological glass and metals; ionization models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eva Menart

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. National Museum of Slovenia, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2. Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: non-destructive analysis; cultural heritage objects; material degradation; preventive conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting you to submit articles related to the studies of cultural heritage objects. Artifacts and other objects or achievements are worthy of admiration and preservation. Scientists express our attitude towards these items by analyzing them, inventing methods that produce no or as little damage as possible. What can the analytical results tell us? Data about object composition allows their characterization beyond stylistic investigation; it is possible to identify the manufacturing techniques, the selection and use of raw materials, and the travel and distribution of raw materials and merchandise. Scientific dating methods are indispensable for object and site dating, and these are combined with excavation and typological data. On the other hand, aging and the influence of environmental agents have a harmful effect on the artifacts. Analytical methods can be used to monitor the state of degradation, the presence of harmful compounds, and gradual modification. The results of the analysis can suggest the most appropriate interventive and preventive conservation methods, including proper storage and display. Last but not least, digital recording of the artifacts and conservation procedures allows better visualization and repeatability of the procedures.

For this Special Issue, we welcome manuscripts with the following scopes:

  • Analytical investigations of the objects of cultural heritage;
  • Scientific dating methods;
  • Degradation monitoring and factors affecting it;
  • Conservation procedures;
  • Digital procedures including artificial intelligence.

Prof. Dr. Žiga Šmit
Dr. Eva Menart
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cultural heritage
  • analytical methods
  • scientific dating
  • artifact preservation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3924 KB  
Article
Simulated Aging Studies on Porcelain Restoration Adhesives for Conservation in Chinese Museums
by Kaixun Chen, Guanqun Xu, Kai Wang, Maolin Zhang, Yanting Zhong, Feng Yuan and Zihan Li
Materials 2026, 19(4), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19040808 - 20 Feb 2026
Viewed by 513
Abstract
The rapid development of archaeology in China has led to the excavation of numerous fragmented porcelain artifacts, for which adhesive materials play a critical role in conservation and restoration. The long-term stability of these adhesives directly affects the structural safety and visual integrity [...] Read more.
The rapid development of archaeology in China has led to the excavation of numerous fragmented porcelain artifacts, for which adhesive materials play a critical role in conservation and restoration. The long-term stability of these adhesives directly affects the structural safety and visual integrity of restored objects. In this study, four adhesives widely used in Chinese conservation practice—epoxy resin Hezhong AAA, epoxy resin Hongxing 509, acrylic resin Paraloid B-72, and cyanoacrylate adhesive 502—were systematically investigated through simulated cyclic aging experiments. A multi-analytical approach was employed, including ultra-depth-of-field microscopy, CIE Lab* colorimetric analysis, pencil hardness testing, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results reveal distinct aging behaviors among different adhesive types. Epoxy resin adhesives exhibit high initial hardness and pronounced hardening during aging, with coating hardness increasing from the B range to the H range after 15 aging cycles; however, they also show significant yellowing, with total color differences (ΔE) exceeding 10 and dominated by increases in the b* parameter. Paraloid B-72 maintains excellent color stability throughout aging, with ΔE values consistently below 2, although it shows limited thermal stability and delayed physical stabilization. The cyanoacrylate adhesive 502 demonstrates rapid curing and minimal discoloration but undergoes embrittlement and interfacial debonding during aging, indicating reduced long-term bonding reliability. By correlating macroscopic performance evolution with molecular-level chemical changes, this study elucidates the aging mechanisms of commonly used restoration adhesives and provides a scientific basis for adhesive selection, risk assessment, and long–term preservation strategies in porcelain conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials in Cultural Heritage: Analysis, Testing and Preservation (Second Edition))
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20 pages, 2725 KB  
Article
Heritage Decorative Wooden Flooring Restoration—Systemotechnical Approach and Risk Analysis
by Michał Juszczyk, Leonas Ustinovichius, Michał Pyzalski, Piotr Buda and Paweł Murzyn
Materials 2026, 19(3), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030631 - 6 Feb 2026
Viewed by 429
Abstract
Decorative wooden floorings in heritage interiors require restoration strategies that balance material authenticity, technical reliability, and environmental sensitivity. This study presents a conservation-oriented restoration of a historic parquet floor in the Monastery at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland), originating from the late [...] Read more.
Decorative wooden floorings in heritage interiors require restoration strategies that balance material authenticity, technical reliability, and environmental sensitivity. This study presents a conservation-oriented restoration of a historic parquet floor in the Monastery at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland), originating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and focuses on the role of structured risk analysis in technological decision-making. A systemotechnical framework was applied to analyse the restoration as a sequence of interrelated stages governed by material, structural, environmental, technological, and organisational subsystems. Qualitative and semi-quantitative risk classification was integrated with diagnostic investigation, workshop renovation, subfloor reconstruction, reinstallation, and post-intervention monitoring. The results show that dominant risk categories shift across stages and can be progressively reduced through targeted mitigation measures, particularly those addressing moisture variability, material compatibility, and organisational coordination. Early-stage diagnostics combined with active microclimate control proved critical to process reliability and long-term performance, enabling the retention of approximately 85% of the original wooden material. The findings demonstrate the broader applicability of phase-based, risk-informed decision-making in heritage conservation, offering a transferable framework for sustainable restoration of historic wooden floors across diverse cultural and climatic contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials in Cultural Heritage: Analysis, Testing and Preservation (Second Edition))
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