Cycle / Years
41th cycle [2025-2028]
Contacts
Supervisor(s)
Prof.ssa Ilaria Bonaduce e Prof.ssa Celia Duce
Title of the PhD project
Molecular Study of Urushi Curing: Influence of Pigments, Artistic Formulations, and Geographic Variability
Abstract of the PhD project
Urushi lacquer, produced from the sap of trees belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, has been widely used in East Asia for centuries as both a protective and decorative coating on wooden and metal surfaces. Its curing process is driven by enzymatic oxidation, leading to the formation of a highly resistant polymeric network.
For the study, conservation, and restoration of lacquered objects, it is essential to identify the types of lacquer and associated components used in their original formulations, as well as to assess how film formation and ageing are influenced by pigments, traditional artistic practices, and geographic variations in raw materials and processing methods. This project aims to address these issues.
To achieve this, a multi-analytical approach will be employed, combining DSC, EGA-MS, FTIR, GC-MS, SEM, and gravimetric measurements. This integrated methodology will be used to elucidate the chemical composition, curing kinetics, and microstructure of urushi lacquer, and to validate laboratory results through comparison with historical lacquered artefacts.
Academic Fields and Disciplines (SSD), main and secondary
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Educational and third mission activities
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International
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Publications
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Oral communications at conferences
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Poster communications at conferences
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Other achievements
Gaetano Castro Prize, Bachelor's Degree Thesis: The Relaxation of Wood: Studies Applied to the Conservation of Panel Paintings, May, 2022
Funding
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