Antifouling coatings for underwater archaeological stone materials

Several formulations have been prepared, applied on marble specimens, and tested in laboratory to check the hydrophobicity and the colorimetric variation induced by the products. Moreover, treated specimens have been hold in underwater environment for two years, to study the bio-colonization on treated surfaces. The underwater archaeological park of Baia (Naples, Italy) in the area of the Villa con ingresso a protiro, has been chosen for the in situ tests. Transmitted light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with microanalysis (EDS) were used to study the biological colonization and the interactions with treated and untreated stone specimens, observed in different exposure periods. Results showed a significant slowdown of the biological colonization on treated surfaces.