Video Talk - Slides
BIOGRAPHY
Giuseppe Lazzara is an associate professor at the Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of Palermo, Italy. His scientific activity falls within the field of physical chemistry of large interphase systems.
He is involved in projects aimed at the development of new materials, based on nanotechnologies, for the cleaning and preservation of art objects. In particular, his research focuses on nanoclays (such as Laponite, Halloysite, Sepiolite) and supramolecular structures for the design of systems capable of responding to external stimuli for the conservation of cultural heritage and on the chemical-physical characterization of degraded archaeological woods before and after the consolidation treatment.
ABSTRACT
Nanoclays for paper protection
The remarkable development in the field of nanotechnology provides new materials and approaches in principle valuable for protecting manufacts. With this in mind, we prepared a consolidant based on natural halloysite nanotubes (HNT). Halloysite is a natural clay, abundant over the world, no-toxic and inexpensive. Halloysite nanotubes possess hollow tubes with diameters of the order of 80 nm and lengths of ca. 700 nm. The addition of halloysite nanotubes to biopolymers causes an improvement of the mechanical and thermal properties as well as flame retardant features. Another interesting aspect of using HNT as nanofiller is the ability to load active chemical agents into the lumen for a controlled release. To the light of these insights, paper samples were consolidated and protected against aging.
