Das Projekt "Development of a New Antigraffiti System, based on Traditional Concepts, Preventing Damage of Architectural Heritage Materials (GRAFFITAGE)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung durchgeführt. Graffiti is a major, increasing danger to architectural heritage materials, generating also a negative social connotation. Apart from aesthetics aspects, interactions of graffiti with substrate, as well as cleaning procedures, threaten historical substance. Monuments made of stone, bricks and mortars are menaced by this problem because very often, porous natural materials were employed. Two major kind of coatings are currently being used for protecting surfaces against graffiti: permanent and sacrificial. First kind is suited for materials with low porosity, as metals and concrete, but does not fit the requirements for porous ancient materials. Second one is sometimes used in monuments, but it is not an appropriated solution, since removal procedures can damage substrates somewhat. Hence, effective solutions for anti-graffiti systems is an urgent social and technical necessity. The main objective of this project is to develop novel conservation coatings suited for protecting materials of historical monuments, based on a similar structure of ancient protein coatings, avoiding the disadvantages of currently used antigraffiti coatings . This develop is based in a totally new formulation made by complexation of polyampholytes with polymeric amines modified by fluorocarbon residues. These will be a new generation of antigraffiti coatings, specifically suited for the protection of monuments, which after further development, could be commercialised and applied by SME's involved in this market, thus increasing the competitiveness of these companies. Main characteristics of these products are: - Low surface energy - Permanent under out-door conditions - Reversible to specially designed mild cleaning systems - Permeable to water-vapour - Impermeable to liquid water - Transparent The objective will be achieved by means of research activities, such as: definition of requirements and test procedures, design of new anti-graffiti system, characterisation of substrates, comparative assessment of currently used and the new protection and conservation strategies and evaluation of the technical and socio-economic impact of the new anti-graffiti on cultural heritage materials. Prime Contractor: Fundacion Labein; Derio; Spain.
Das Projekt "Hydrologische Funktion naturnaher Waldökosysteme in einem alpinen Einzugsgebiet" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Institut für Wasserwirtschaft, Hydrologie und konstruktiven Wasserbau (IWHW) durchgeführt. Ziel dieses interdisziplinaeren Projektes ist die Messung und Beurteilung der Hangabflusskomponenten (oberirdischer Abfluss, Interflow, Schichtabfluss) in Abhaengigkeit von der Forstvegetation (Biomasseentwicklung, Leaf-Area-Index, Wurzeldichte und Verteilung, Humus). Dabei werden in situ-Messungen an zwei unterschiedlich bewachsenen Hangstandorten im alpinen Bereich durchgefuehrt. Automatisierte Messgeraete gewaehrleisten eine kontinuierliche Aufzeichnung der Daten. Durch Modellversuche im wasserbaulichen Versuchslabor werden die Feldmessungen ergaenzt. Numerische, zweidimensionale Simulationen des Hangabflusses erlauben eine Beurteilung zusaetzlicher Standortsszenarien.