Page 95 - IEAR1_60y_Book_of_Abstracts_UPD

Radioisotopes

PRESSERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE AND WORKS OF ART USING
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES P32

J.C.R. Perez a
a
jamirezperez@gmail.com
Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency, La Paz, Bolivia

Conserving the cultural heritage and works of art is a general concern, be-
cause they are constantly exposed to biodegradation due to the presence of micro-
organisms (bacteria, Achaea, fungi, algae), as well as lichens and insect pests because
of their bio-deteriorative potential and cause problems in their surface, the attacks
of these living micro-organisms is known as bio-deteriorating agents. The diverse
bio-deterioration phenomena observed in these ancient materials are determined by
several factors, namely the chemical composition and nature of the material itself,
the environment exposed them arise from the development of micro-organisms within
the pore system, besides the manner and frequency of surface cleaning and household
management in places where are kept. Proper conservation and preservation meth-
ods are necessary for ensuring a long service life of cultural heritage and work of art
products. This study describes a review of the main nuclear technology treatments
applied to eliminate bio deterioration agents in historic cultural artifacts as well as to
characterize them. First, disinfection and decontamination of historic cultural arti-
facts, such paper leather, textile parchment, polychromic wooden sculptures, parts of
altars, musical instruments, painting, clothes through irradiation treatment, includ-
ing gamma radiation 60 Co, the main nuclear technique for salvation, restoration and
conservation, also electron-beam, X-ray diffraction, neutron activation. The reports
suggest that the radiation does not damage the precious artifacts, because it is a
non-destructive technique and these materials do not become radioactive, however
the artifacts require appropriate monitoring methods. Second, the characterization of
cultural heritage artifacts, using noninvasive and nondestructive analytical techniques
imaging and spectroscopy based on X-ray spectrometry (EDXRF/WDXRF/TXRF,
XPS), ion beam analyses (PIXE/PIGE, RBS,SR), FTIR-ATR, Raman spectrome-
try, along with scanning microscopy (AFM/SEM/TEM) for preserving, conserving
and restoring historical cultural heritage artifacts. In Bolivia, the application of these
nuclear technology will become a reality only when it will be concluded the future
Center for Research and Development in Nuclear Technology (CRDNT), which will
be built in El Alto city at 3928 meters above the sea level, the components of the
center include a multipurpose 60 Co gamma radiation facility and Electron beam, a

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