Moisture Damage. New Tools for the protection of Cultural Heritage in italy: innovative techniques for in situ Diagnostics

This study showed the improvements of innovative techniques for moisture detection in masonry. This task has been considered decisive, as water is able to induce damage mechanisms when it is present both on the surface and inside the porous system of the material. When experts approach structures and surface building decay in relation to moisture, they often address only part of the actual problem. This technical focus issue deals with water content and relative humidity, however other variables have to be taken into account as evaporation. According to current knowledge, it is crucial to measure evaporative flux, as well as water content, precisely. This quantity in fact, is more directly related to the water exchange mechanism, both in liquid And in vapour phases, then the local microclimate. This study is part of a vast survey that focused on using non-destructive testing masonry safe, which is fundamental in historical building protection, and to understand the processes caused by the water content inside an entire structure instead of the water content of a sample. The study also provided a better understanding of moisture fluxes in seasonal and daily cycles, during decay phenomena, and before and after water repellent treatments, in order to achieve greater effectiveness of any conservation plan.