Advanced Characterization Approaches Applied to the Field of Cultural Heritage: From Conservation to Divulgation

Dear Colleague,

Characterizing cultural goods is an open line of research with many challenges to solve. The complexity and deterioration of the materials used, the lack of knowledge of the oldest preparation protocols, and the loss of traditional recipes greatly hinder the interpretation of the results obtained by the characterization techniques.

Traditional characterization methods (i.e., XRD, FTIR) for these kinds of patrimonial structures, on which any alteration is undesirable, can be considered destructive and are based on the use of extracted micro-samples. In addition, innovative methodologies have been gradually incorporated into this field, providing relevant and respectful heritage information. Computational models, digital image processing, and the technological development of high-resolution portable equipment have reported new characterization approaches.

This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in the utilization of material characterization techniques that can provide information for the knowledge, conservation, and dissemination of heritage, from traditional techniques that include chemical, morphological, electronic, and optical characterization to the most innovative methodologies based on non-destructive or microinvasive techniques.

We kindly invite you to submit manuscripts for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, perspectives, and reviews are all welcome.

The proposed topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Chromatographic methods.
• Spectroscopic techniques.
• Microscopy.
• Non- and micro-destructive techniques.
• Portable instrumentation.
• Computational modelling.
• Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.
• Digital image processing.
• All characterization methods or methodologies applied to heritage.

Dr. Mario J. Muñoz Batista
Dr. Ana Isabel Calero-Castillo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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