Radiation technology can be used for treating cultural heritage objects both in the prevention phase, as well as in the phase when the objects were already infested and needed to be treated. The proposed project will be performed in two separate directions.

The radiation effects on materials and bioburden encountered on cultural heritage will be studied with a special focus on determining the influence of dose rate on the successful radiation treatment, and determining the difference between the radiation effects on new materials, naturally and artificially aged. This knowledge is needed in order to set the proper irradiation conditions for the application of radiation technology for the successful treatment of bioburden.

The second aim of the project is to study the possibility of using radiation technology for obtaining crosslinked environment-friendly nanothick coatings for the protection of metal-based cultural heritage. The protective properties of the coatings will be studied in simulated and real atmospheric conditions.