Non destructive characterization of thermal and optical properties on high performances textiles

This paper shows the role of non-destructive testing (NDT) in the characterization of innovative materials for the protection of archaeological sites. In the last years several papers showed the change in the trend of designing shelters on archaeological areas: from mainly aesthetic issues to the effective protection and, especially, low impact on the site and environment. At present the compelling concern of conservators, scholars, designers, and the authorities for the protection of Archaeological area requires to test and adopt new solution that better meet the requirements of conservation. The authors analyzed any aspects in previous publications [1-4], highlighting how traditional covering solutions can often contribute to damage instead of offering protection. To overcome the limits of typical protective building systems, the project of new shelters needed to combine the requirements for preservation (compatibility and reversibility of new materials, as well as protection from environmental aggression) and new issues of their use (flexibility, feasibility, lowest maintenance and easy deconstruction to allow the reuse of the shelter in different locations and/or seasons). Recent researches [5-7] on high performances textiles and ultra light structures are very promising, and they bring an important innovation for the realization of shelters, together with meeting most of the listed requirements. Nevertheless, scientific literature does not reports enough information regarding the durability and decreasing of performances of textiles, especially if exposed to polluted or aggressive environments. This paper describes the tests of a textile-based prototypes (PVC coated Polyester, mostly commonly used for many purposes shelters) proposed as an alternative solution to the provisional shelter, and the comparison of its characteristics and performances throughout six years of natural ageing in polluted environment.