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Papers by Guido Biscontin

Materials and Structures, 1994

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2014

The study of traditional mortars has recently been attracting considerable attention, in connecti... more The study of traditional mortars has recently been attracting considerable attention, in connection with both diagnosis and applications required for restoration. The mortar is only apparently a simple system; in reality the lime is often accompanied by hydraulic components. The inerts often interact with the binder and the technologies used in the application are very diversified. These situations make the study of the mixtures rather complex, as it is difficult to distinguish the neoformation compounds from the older ones.
A basic approach is offered by granulometric analysis, allowing separation of the mortar into its components, in which the finer fraction is richer in binder. Some analyses on this fraction (<63 μm) were performed to define the nature and quantity of the binder in the mortar. Samples were taken from various sites in Venice and were examined by calcimetry, TG-DTG and FTIR analyses. Moreover the investigation of this fraction by optical microscopy enabled us to distinguish the binder from the inert particles.

Applied Clay Science, 2004

The structure of historical “cocciopesto” mortars (utilized in Venice and more generally in the M... more The structure of historical “cocciopesto” mortars (utilized in Venice and more generally in the Mediterranean area) have been mimicked with samples of phyllosilicate rich (by 58%) clay heated at different temperatures (between 500 and 700 °C) and treated with lime over a 5-month seasoning period in the air (in the presence of CO2) or alternatively under N2 atmosphere (in the

Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2000

Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2007

Stucco samples moulded during a long period (from 1500 to 1700) were collected from Palazzo Grima... more Stucco samples moulded during a long period (from 1500 to 1700) were collected from Palazzo Grimani in Venice to study the binder and the working techniques. Three types of mixtures based on calcite and magnesite, on calcite, magnesite and gypsum and finally only on calcite were detected. The presence of magnesite in stuccoworks brings up questions about the employment of

Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2002

Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2001

Construction and Building Materials, 2007

In this study some results on the reactivity of silicatic consolidants employed for the conservat... more In this study some results on the reactivity of silicatic consolidants employed for the conservation of valuable artistic and cultural porous materials are discussed. In particular, a colloidal suspension of silica made by particles with an average diameter of 10–15nm, a sodium silicate and an ethyl silicate consolidant are studied. The chemical–physical characterization of xerogels achieved from the examined products

6th International Congress on "Science and technology for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage in Mediterranean Basin", Oct 2013

"The lagoon environment type of the findings, with fragile traces of huge timber buildings, does ... more "The lagoon environment type of the findings, with fragile traces of huge timber buildings, does not allow a traditional conservation and consolidation of the archaeological features. Everything, in fact, is below the average sea level. Transforming the uncovered structures in a enduring open Archaeological Park would be too expensive in term of maintenance and impact. The project, nevertheless, has tried to experiment a new way to interact with a broad public (students, local residents and visitors). The results of the excavation have been communicated during the research itself, through a series of guided tour, lessons and open days. The archaeologists and the archaeometrists were the ones who were appointed to convey the “living” outcomes of the researches.
Drawing upon the experience gained, the authors have proposed a new phase of the Project for the next five years, with a formula named “Living Archaeology”. The excavation will be open during the whole campaign, with guided tours in Italian, English and French. The restoration processes and cataloguing activities will be moved on a fully equipped laboratory, placed alongside the trenches. The visitors will be the “key players”, starting with being involved in the fascination of the discovery, ending with being aware of the scientific approach of the analysis on the finds.
The project will invest the incomes from these activities to finance the research itself. The communication system, the booking processes and the publications will be managed trough the web and the social networks. The archaeological excavation will be an “event” - an exhibit of itself - and the visitors will have the unique opportunity to “touch” the materiality of the origins of Venice. The activities will be projected in close contact with the local stakeholders, highlighting the idea of archaeology as a chance for increasing “identity” and “economic opportunities”.
At the end of the researches, the excavation trenches will be refilled, as the only way to guarantee conservation with zero impact. In the meantime a lot of scientific data will be acquired; a considerable number of finds will be studied and restored; and a noticeably large group of people (from 20.000 to 25.000 each season) will have had the opportunities to be deeply involved in the knowledge processes. Probably, in that way they should be well aware of the uniqueness of the site, helping with their attitude in the conservation policies of the island. "