WELCOME TO NANOCONSERVATION
Effective nano technologies for conservation of historical built heritage with state-of-the-art application techniques.
About Us
NanoConservation is formed from research emanating from Sheffield Hallam University.
NanoConservation was first created following cutting edge research carried out to develop more effective nanolime-based consolidation application techniques for the conservation of limestone. The business focuses also on the development of new, more sustainable and economical nanoproducts, application techniques, and protective treatments, to ensure the long-term preservation of historical built heritage.
Value Proposition
At NanoConservation we ensure the long-term preservation of stone heritage with compatible and more effective and economical nanolime-based application techniques and conservation treatments.
The Problem & Solution
Despite their compatibility with calcareous substrates, current nanolime treatments face limitations due to existing commercial products’ inability to penetrate fine-grained and low-porosity substrates effectively.
NanoConservation research aims to address this issue by developing a state of the art and safe consolidation technology using commercialised nanolimes applied with patent-pending application techniques, thus enhancing the in-depth penetration and overall consolidation performance. As it stands, one of the application technique named: “nano Electro Application Technique” (nEAT), is under commercialisation process and will soon be trialled in the built heritage conservation sector.
The Problem
The Solution
Our Technology
NanoConservation provides innovative nanolime application techniques such as an Enhanced nanolime consolidation technique (En-NCT) and the newly invented nEAT . These applications techniques showed excellent potential for restoring deteriorated limestones by ensuring effective consolidation performance.
En-NCT was successfully trialled on three British Museum limestone objects from the Greek, Roman and Egyptian collections showing superficial damage, e.g. powdering and crumbling surface. Two additional (International Patent pending) application techniques (including nEAT) focus on the use of energetically applied processes to change the wettability and the surface energy of the stone surface, this to increase the adhesion and the penetration of the product (alcoholic nanolime in this case) applied over it. Performance tests on carried out on various sound and weathered limestones with reduced porosities (lower than 20%) demonstrate deeper penetration and enhanced compressive strength compared to existing nanolime application techniques, thus ensuring both superficial (i.e. near-to-the-surface) and mass consolidation (i.e. in-depth) efficiencies.
Meet the Team
-
Dr. Cyril Maucourant
Researcher and Entrepreneur Lead (Sheffield Hallam University – Innovate UK ICURE)
-
Prof. Fin O'Flaherty
Professor of Infrastructure Engineering and Principal Scientific Advisor (Sheffield Hallam University – Innovate UK ICURE)
-
Dr Neil Bowden
Innovation Funding Manager and Technology Transfer Officer (Sheffield Hallam University – Innovate UK ICURE)
-
Georgia Hatzigiannidou
Funding Adviser and Technology Transfer Officer (Sheffield Hallam University – Innovate UK ICURE)
-
Lewis Proudfoot
Managing Director of Cliveden Conservation ltd and Business Advisor (Cliveden Conservation ltd – Innovate UK ICURE)
Get in touch.
We would love to learn from your experience in the field of stone conservation and the use of nanolime, please, complete the following survey, thank you