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SECURE-COATS ("Safe, eco-friendly and durable coatings to prevent deterioration of heritage stones")

SECURE-COATS is a research project funded by the Italian Ministry for University and Research (MUR) within the public call PRIN 2022 (project budget 268'600 €). The project started on 28/9/2023 and will last for 2 years.

The project aims at providing new solutions for the conservation of marble and limestone in cultural heritage, by creating composite coatings with:
- ANTI-FOULING ABILITY, to prevent biodeterioration caused by microorganisms;
- ANTI-STAIN ABILITY, to prevent staining by green malachite stripes that form when stone is coupled with bronze;
- SELF-DIAGNOSTIC ABILITY, to evaluate quickly and non-destructively whether a protective coating is still present after years of field exposure.

To achieve these abilities, possibly combined in a single multifunctional treatment, several different strategies will be investigated. The project will take advantage of the interdisciplinary and complementary competences of two research units involved in the project.