IR Thermography Applied to the Cultural Heritage Conservation

Thermal non-destructive testing is more and more applied even in the field of cultural heritage conservation. The main reason is the capability of inspecting large surfaces without any contact or damage. A large number of testing procedures and processing algorithms allows reaching reliable results both in laboratory or in situ. Well established or innovative techniques are based on the analysis of the thermal process during the quasi-steady or the transient regime. IR thermography may be applied qualitatively or under advanced processing, accordingly to particular demands. The quantitative use of thermography allows an effective investigation of the decay and identification of the causes of the material weakness. Furthermore, the knowledge of the hidden history of the monument is enhanced by a view in the IR. Thermal Non Destructive Testing could analyse different works of art and decay forms. Results given for the following case study are illustrated: fresco detachment sizing, classification and visualization of the building materials below the finishing layer, structural cracks identification for the seismic risk evaluation, monitor of the moisture of structures