from PhysicsWeb
A sensitive approach to frescoes
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from Seed Magazine
Physicists develop tool to diagnose Italian frescoes
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A new technique which measures the moisture and salt content of frescoes up to a surface depth of 2cm into the surface, without the need for sampling or removal of materials. This is achieved by a combination of using a microwave source and a detector which differentiates the resonance frequency of the reflected radiation from the materials.

This would be a definite improvement over current techniques which use infra-red radiation as a detection source - the limitation being only the very top fresco surface is monitored as well as the inability to detect salt levels, which often is the primary cause of deterioration in wall frescoes.