Now in its fifth edition, the book has been updated to include more detailed descriptions of new or more commonly used techniques since the last edition as well as remove those that are no longer used, procedures which have been developed recently, ionization constants (pKa values) and also more detail about the trivial names of compounds.In addition to having two general chapters on purification procedures, this book provides details of the physical properties and purification procedures, taken from literature, of a very extensive number of organic, inorganic and biochemical compounds which are commercially available. This is the only complete source that covers the purification of laboratory chemicals that are commercially available in this manner and format.* Complete update of this valuable, well-known reference* Provides purification procedures of commercially available chemicals and biochemicals* Includes an extremely useful compilation of ionisation constants

The aim of radiation protection standards is to make the radiation workplace as safe as is humanly possible. The gradual evolution over the last 20 years has been towards a more precise definition of the limits for occupational exposure. These have been created not only in terms of short-term effects but also more importantly in terms of long-term risks involving such problems as the potential for carcinogenesis and genetic change. In the United States the National Committee for Radiation Protection has recom mended that 5 rems (50 mSv) should remain as the maximum permissible dose equiva lent for total body exposure. This would represent the sum of internal and external ex posure and should be regarded as the upper limit allowed. The community of radiation users is required to conduct its operations in such a man ner that the absolute value of the individual's dose equivalent in rems does not exceed his age in years. There should be additional limits for tissues and organs based on short term effects. Therefore, individual organs are limited to dose equivalents low enough to ensure that the dose threshold values are not exceeded.

This book is primarily an introduction to the vast family of ceramic materials. The first part is devoted to the basics of ceramics and processes: raw materials, powders synthesis, shaping and sintering. It discusses traditional ceramics as well as “technical” ceramics – both oxide and non-oxide – which have multiple developments. The second part focuses on properties and applications, and discusses both structural and functional ceramics, including bioceramics. The fields of abrasion, cutting and tribology illustrate the importance of mechanical properties. It also deals with the questions/answers of a ceramicist regarding electronuclear technology. As chemistry is an essential discipline for ceramicists, the book shows, in particular, what soft chemistry can contribute as a result of sol-gel methods.

The idea of the book “Science and Conservation for Museum Collections” was born as a result of the experience made by CNR-ISTEC (Faenza) in the implementation of a course for Syrian restorers at the National Museum in Damascus. The book takes into consideration archaeological artefacts made out of the most common materials, like stones (both natural and artificial), mosaics, ceramics, glass, metals, wood and textiles, together with less diffuse artefacts and materials, like clay tablets, goldsmith artefacts, icons, leather and skin objects, bones and ivory, coral and mother of pearl. Each type of material is treated from four different points of view: composition and processing technology; alteration and degradation causes and mechanisms; procedures for conservative intervention; case studies and/or examples of conservation and restoration. Due to the high number of materials and to the great difference between their conservation problems, all the subjects are treated in a schematic, but precise and complete way. The book is mainly addressed to students, young restorers, conservators and conservation scientists all around the world. But the book can be usefully read by expert professionals too, because nobody can know everything and the experts often need to learn something of the materials not included in their specific knowledge. Twenty- two experts in very different fields of activity contributed with their experience for obtaining a good product. All they are Italian experts, or working in Italy, so that the book can be seen as an exemplification on how the conservation problem of Cultural Heritage is received and tackled in Italy. —————————————————— SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION FOR MUSEUM COLLECTIONS INTRODUCTION 1 – PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION 1.1 Introduction 1.2 International standards and guidelines 1.3 Environment-material interaction 1.4 Microclimate and monitoring 1.5 Handling works of art 1.6 Exhibition criteria 1.7 MUSA project: intermuseum network for conservation of artistic heritage Bibliography Acknowledgements 2 – STONE ARTEFACTS 2.1 What conservation means 2.2 Natural Stones 2.3 Artificial stones 2.4 Deterioration of the stone 2.5 Cleaning of stone artefacts 2.6 Consolidation and Protection 2.7 Case studies Bibliography 3 – MOSAICS 3.1 Manufacturing techniques 3.2 History of the mosaic 3.3 Degradation of mosaic 3.4 Restoration of mosaics 3.5 Case study Bibliography 4 – CERAMICS 4.1 Ceramic technology 4.2 Technological classification of ceramics 4.3 Alteration and degradation processes 4.4 Ceramic conservation and restoration 4.5 Case studies 4.6 Examples of restoration Bibliography Acknowledgements 5 – CLAY TABLETS 5.1 Defnition 5.2 Deterioration 5.3 Conservative intervention 5.4 Case study: Syrian tablets Bibliography Acknowledgements 6 – GLASS 6.1 General information 6.2 Processing techniques 6.3 Glass deterioration 6.4 Glass conservation and restoration 6.5 Case studies Bibliography Acknowledgements 7 – METALS 7.1 Origin of metals 7.2 Manufacturing techniques 7.3 Conservation state of metals 7.4 Conservative intervention for metals 7.5 Case studies: Recovery of metallic artefacts from terracotta containers Bibliography Acknowledgements 8 – GOLDSMITH ARTEFACTS 8.1 Goldsmith’s metals 8.2 Enamels 8.3 Precious stones 8.4 Alteration and degradation 8.5 Conservative intervention 8.6 Case studies Bibliography 9 – WOOD ARTEFACTS 9.1 Characteristics of the wood 9.2 Working techniques 9.3 Degradation of wood 9.4 How to start restoring 9.5 Restoration of a small inlaid table 9.6 Restoration of a commemorating wooden tablet 9.7 The restoration of a seventeenth-century wooden crucifix Bibliography 10 – ICONS 10.1 The construction of icons 10.2 Degradation and damages of icons 10.3 Methods of conservation and restoration of icons 10.4 Examples of conservative interventions Bibliography 11 – TEXTILE FINDS 11.1 Morphology, characteristics and properties of textiles 11.2 Decay of textile fibres 11.3 Conservation treatments of archaeological textiles 11.4 Conservation practice: two case histories Bibliography Acknowledgements 12 – LEATHER AND ANIMAL SKIN OBJECTS 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Skin 12.3 The tanning process 12.4 Parchment 12.5 Leather degradation 12.6 Conservative intervention 12.7 Examples of conservative interventions Bibliography 13 – INORGANIC MATERIALS OF ORGANIC ORIGIN 13.1 The materials 13.2 The restoration operations 13.3 Cases of study Bibliography Acknowledgements 14 – ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES 14.1 General information 14.2 Optical microscopy 14.3 Spectroscopic techniques 14.4 Radiochemical techniques 14.5 Chromatography 14.6 Electron microscopy 14.7 Thermal analyses 14.8 Open porosity measurements 14.9 Analysis of microbial colonization Bibliography Acknowledgements

This volume collects the state of the art in molecular materials. It collects the lecture notes of a series of lectures given by some of the best specialists in the field at the 2007 Erice International School of Crystallography, and also a NATO-ASI course. The school first established "where we are" in terms of modeling, design, synthesis and applications of crystalline solids with predefined properties and then defined current and possible futuristic lines of development.