Novel “Green” Polymers, Gels and Composites for Cultural Heritage Preservation

Novel “green” materials are crucial in cultural heritage (CH) preservation since they allow time- and cost-effective interventions and avoid risks related to the use of toxic compounds. To this purpose, the physico-chemical properties of the new materials must be tailored to the tasks they must address. This chapter discusses some of the latest advanced materials for CH conservation, e.g. “green” polymers/olygomers and composites to formulate gels and coatings, tuning their physico-chemical properties to achieve optimal cleaning or protection of works of art. In particular, recent findings in the formulation of hydrogels and organogels for cleaning tasks, and coatings for the protection of metals against corrosion, are discussed, and new aspects are highlighted in the research of these materials. Gels with controlled hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and tortuosity, and coatings with active response to corrosion, are illustrated to show the large applicative potential of sustainable materials in CH conservation.