Supervisor: Prof. Tinè Maria Rosaria

Title: Studies of artists' paint media by thermal analytical techniques.

Abstract: In this work of thesis I will study the effect of natural and artificial ageing on the media used by the artists in cultural heritage. In particular, proteinaceous binder and their interaction with inorganic pigments and studies of resins employ in modern and contemporary art, pluging in COPAC Project (Conservazione Preventiva dell’Arte Contemporanea, Regione Toscana 2011-2013). In this first year of work I studied ten samples of alkyd resins paint produced by Winsor & Newton- serie Griffin. Thermal analyses, specifically, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysys (TGA), were used in this work to study the changes in properties of alkyd sample with age.
The cross-linking rate during ageing was observed with DSC by monitoring the exothermic reaction after the decomposition of peroxide groups, which form during auto-oxidation of the alkyd resin. TGA studies of aged flms permitted to evaluate the physical dry (solvent evaporation) and indicated an increase in film density with age, probably due to cross-linking and the loss of volatile dagradation species at first and then the possible formation of oxidative degradation products over time, such as carboxylate salts that increase the cohesive forces in the film.

Publications:
1) A highly pH-sensitive Zn(II) chemosensor
Carla Bazzicalupi, Andrea Bencini, Silvia Biagini, Enrico Faggi, Giovanna Farruggia, Giulia Andreani, Paola Gratteri, Luca Prodi, Alessio Spepi and Barbara Valtancoli Dalton Trans 39(30):7080-90 (2010)
2) A Novel Manganese Complex Effective as Superoxide Anion Scavenger and Therapeutic Agent against Cell and Tissue Oxidative Injury
Paola Failli, Daniele Bani, Andrea Bencini, Miriam Cantore, Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Carla Ghelardini, Claudia Giorgi, Massimo Innocenti, Francesco Rugi, Alessio Spepi, Roberto Udisti and Barbara Valtancoli J Med Chem 52(22):7273-83 (2009)
3) Exploring the Binding Ability of Phenanthroline-Based Polyammonium Receptors for Anions: Hints for Design of Selective Chemosensors for Nucleotides
Carla Bazzicalupi, Andrea Bencini, Silvia Biagini, Enrico Faggi, Stefano Meini, Claudia Giorgi, Alessio Spepi and Barbara Valtancoli J Org Chem 74(19):7349-7363 (2009)