Nano-scale powders may help restore frescos

from the art-history dept.
While it's not really "nanotechnology", an item on the Nature Science Update website ("Nanotechnology restores flaking frescos", 11 July 2001) describes the use of nano-scale crystals of calcium hydroxide by researchers at the University of Florence (Italy) to help restore fresco paintings that are deteriorating because the outer layer of plaster is flaking off. They use a suspension of tiny calcium hydroxide crystals in alcohol. As the alcohol evaporates, the crystals absorb water and carbon dioxide, and merge with the calcium carbonate in the paint layer and the underlying plaster, welding them together with an almost invisible bond.