The research group Natural and Synthetic Polymers investigates the degradation and conservation strategies for objects made of natural and synthetic polymeric materials. Natural polymers include primarily wood, paper, leather, wax, and natural binders. In the case of synthetic polymers, the group focuses on artworks and collection objects made from polymeric materials of all types, ranging from early so-called semi-synthetic materials to modern synthetic polymers.
The Textile Materials research group is focused on the comprehensive conservation and restoration of historical and archaeological textiles. Research activities are aimed not only at the degradation of textile materials and the development of new conservation technologies, but also at the evaluation of existing procedures and assessment of their impact on the long-term stability of textiles.
The research activities of the Building Materials and Pigments group are focused on three main areas: inorganic binders, stone, and pigments.
The Art-Historical Research group is dedicated to comprehensive art-historical studies in the fields of architecture, visual arts, and applied arts. The focus of research includes both individual works of art and craft objects and their collections, as well as the broader study of historical technologies and materials.
