Search Results (206)

Virtual Reality (VR) painting, an emerging form of artistic expression under 5G technology, showcases a broader range of expressive styles and dynamic visual effects compared to traditional computer graphics. The creative process in VR painting enhances spatial depth, exhibiting different spatial abilities and necessitating more physical movements, including hand controllers and foot movements in the virtual space. Furthermore, VR painting in art therapy encourages users to engage in physical activities, contributing to better emotional expression. This study involved digital-native users in VR painting, using Meta Quest 2 to operate Open Brush for their creations. Through observational methods, we examined user operational behaviors and conducted semi-structured interviews post-experiment to explore their painting performance and usage behaviors in the virtual environment. The results of this study indicate that VR painting enhances the sense of space and dynamic expression in creative work and improves users’ emotional and physical engagement, providing new avenues for artistic expression. These findings contribute to improving the usability and application value of VR paintings. Full article

Water-based (meth)acrylic (co)polymer dispersions are produced on a large scale for various applications including coatings, adhesives, paints, and construction materials. A major benefit of waterborne polymer dispersions as compared to more traditional solvent-based alternatives is the low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, which results in an improved environmental profile. Following the trend of sustainability that has driven the growth of acrylic dispersions, recent research has focused on further enhancing the properties of these products by incorporating biobased materials such as polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose, starch, chitin, and chitosan), and proteins (e.g., casein, soy protein, and collagen). Amongst a large number of benefits, the incorporation of biomaterials can serve to decrease the amount of petroleum-based polymers in the formulation and can also contribute to enhance the physical properties of the resulting bio-composites. In this review, the beneficial role of these biopolymers when combined with waterborne acrylic systems is summarized. Recent advances in the use of these biobased and biodegradable materials are covered, aiming to provide guidance for the development of more sustainable, high-performance latex-based bio-composites with minimal environmental impact. Full article

Upper Cretaceous carbonate rocks in Jordan are the main resources for construction and paint-related industrial applications. This study evaluates the elemental composition, mineralogy, and petrography of two main geological formations from two localities in northern Jordan (Hallabat, Turonian age, and Ajlun, Santonian–Campanian age) to shed light on their composition, depositional environments, and potential industrial end uses. The elemental composition of the Hallabat Wadi Sir Limestone (WSL) Formation indicates notable variability between the middle and upper parts of the WSL carbonates in the area, with higher CaO content in the middle part (mean 55 wt.%) and higher silica content observed in the upper part (mean 2 wt.%) compared with the middle part (mean 0.9 wt.%). Meanwhile, analysis of the elemental composition of the Ajlun Amman Silicified Limestone (ASL) Formation indicates that the CaO content is relatively higher in the upper part (mean 56 wt.%). In addition, the lower part is more influenced by detrital input when compared with the upper part of the studied section, in contrast to the Hallabat WSL Formation. Petrographic analysis demonstrates that the WSL and ASL samples are predominantly micritic limestone. The XRD results for the Hallabat WSL and Ajlun ASL show that the mineralogical composition is dominated by calcite (CaCO₃). Statistical and PCA analyses also confirm these variabilities between the two sites, indicating that all samples from both sites were deposited under variable hydrodynamic and environmental conditions that affected their physical and chemical composition. The results show that all studied samples are in the range of pure limestone and can be used for specific industrial applications in addition to their current uses, including those in the pottery and porcelain ware, soda ash and caustic soda, steel industry, sugar, and textile production industries, thus contributing to the economic resources in Jordan. Full article

The influence of building materials on the physical aspects of educational spaces is significant, shaping both functionality and aesthetic appeal while directly affecting the emotional and cognitive states of students. Despite its significance, this area has not been extensively explored. This study investigated the effects of the visual perception of architectural materials on emotional states and cognitive functions in learning environments. Four materials, namely, red brick, concrete, wood, and white paint, were selected for a material substitution experiment conducted via VR simulations with 46 participants. To assess these effects, eye movement data and bioelectrical responses were methodically recorded, along with the participants’ self-reported emotional states through structured questionnaires. The results indicated that settings featuring wood and red bricks significantly enhanced emotional states, fostering relaxation and positive experiences that contributed to increased creativity. Conversely, settings with concrete and white paint improved cognitive functioning and promoted emotional stability and rational thinking, which enhanced focus and educational efficiency. These findings suggest the impact of visual perception of building materials on emotional and cognitive states, emphasizing the importance of material selection in creating learning spaces that balance cognitive demands with emotional activation. This study provides valuable insights for designing conducive physical learning environments and exploring the psychological and physiological effects of architectural materials. Full article

Paint loss is one of the main forms of deterioration in historical wall paintings, generally restored by the application of chromatic reintegration. In the specific case of outdoor exposed paintings, it is essential to find a binder that will withstand diverse weather conditions. Since chromatic reintegrations have to be compatible with the original painting, fresco paint mock-ups were manufactured and compared to chromatic reintegrations made with an aqueous colloidal dispersion of silica nanoparticles as binder. The physical compatibility was studied by colour spectrophotometry and measurements of static contact angle, gloss, and roughness values, together with a peeling test, stereomicroscopy, and polarised light microscopy. They were also characterised from a mineralogical, chemical, and molecular point of view using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The microtexture was studied by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Chromatic reintegrations showed similar roughness and lower gloss values than frescoes, and the nano-silica binder ensured the natural breathability of the wall. Overall, the chemical nature of pigments was highly influential. The reintegrations with silicate-based pigments were more homogenous, with hardly any fissures, while those carried out with sulphide- or oxide-based pigments were severely cracked. The use of verdigris is discouraged due to the lack of affinity between the binder and the pigment. Full article

This study introduces the profile method as a simple and less expensive approach for estimating the surface energy balance of green roofs, addressing the limitations of costly monitoring systems based on measurements at two vertical points. Four separate experiment buildings were constructed to minimize temperature disturbances: concrete, highly reflective painted, short bamboo, and grass-roofed. This setup allowed the evaluation of the thermal performance of each roof type without interference from connected building structures. The flux profile method was used to estimate sensible and latent heat fluxes using temperature, atmospheric pressure, and wind speed measurements at two elevations and demonstrated its potential applicability. The results showed that the sensible heat flux was highest (103.81 W/m²) for the concrete roof and that the latent heat flux was highest (53.28 W/m²) for the short bamboo roof. These results indicated the reliability of the method in estimating fluxes across all roof types, where the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency was 0.90 on average. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis showed that the optimal values of albedo and surface roughness for each roof type were within reasonable physical ranges, providing additional validation for the flux profile method. The surface energy balance analysis of green roofs indicates that the profile method could serve as an effective tool for quantitatively evaluating the advantages of green roofs, especially in reducing urban heat island effects and lowering building energy consumption. Full article

Lightweight aeronautical structures and power generation structures such as wind turbines are fitted with protected external layers designed and certified to withstand severe climatic events such as lightning strikes. During these events, high currents flow through the structural protection but are likely to induce effects deeper in the supporting composite material and could even reach or perforate pressurized tanks. In situ measurements are hard to achieve during current delivery due to the severe electromagnetic conditions, and the lightning strike phenomenon on these structures is not yet fully investigated. To gain a better understanding of the physics involved, similarities in direct damage between lightning-struck samples and those subjected to pulsed lasers and an electron gun are analyzed. These analyses show the inability of a pure mechanical contribution to fully reproduce the shape of the delamination distribution of lightning strikes. Conversely, the similarities in effect and damage with the thermomechanical contribution of electron beam deposition are highlighted, particularly the increase in core delamination due to the paint and the apparent similarities in delamination distribution. Full article

Inkjet printing is a universal method of direct application and application of various substances to the surface of materials. This technology is gaining popularity in various fields, from textile printing to microelectronics and biomedicine. In the textile industry, inkjet printing has been widely used for many years. In our approach, we systematized the main approaches to maintaining the quality of inkjet printing on various components of materials. We reported and analyzed methods for optimizing the rheological properties of paint to improve the colorimetric characteristics and color fastness on various fabrics. The paper presents surface tension and viscosity regulators, with the help of which the colorimetric indicators of the image on textiles can be improved. For each type of textile, individual modifiers were demonstrated that could most effectively improve the quality of the pattern. Particular attention was paid to the methods of modifying the surface of products, including both physical and chemical approaches. This section discusses an effective method of plasma treatment, which allows you to control the surface free energy for textile polymer materials. By controlling the surface tension of inkjet paints and the surface energy of the material, it is possible to achieve maximum adhesion, thereby significantly increasing the amount of paint per unit area of textile. Additionally, for similar purposes, the principles of chemical modification of the surface with various substances were considered. These methods enable control over the wettability of ink and adhesion to textiles of consistent composition. Additionally, we highlight the potential of thin, optically transparent polymer coatings as a promising strategy to enhance the efficiency of dyeing textile materials. The textile industry is rapidly developing, and the functionality of clothing is improving every year. Inkjet printing methods optimized for maximum accuracy and quality can serve as a significant alternative for applying images. Full article

LIDAR technology is widely used in autonomous driving and environmental sensing, but its accuracy is significantly affected by variations in vehicle surface reflectivity. This study models and predicts the impact of different LIDAR sensor specifications and vehicle surface paints on laser intensity measurements. Laser intensity data from the experiments of Shung et al. were analyzed alongside vehicle color, angle, and distance. Multiple machine learning models were tested, with Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) performing best (RMSE = 0.87451, R² = 0.99924). To enhance the model’s physical interpretability, laser intensity values were correlated with LIDAR optical power equations, and curve fitting was applied to refine the relationship. The model was validated using the input parameters from Shung et al.’s experiments, comparing predicted intensity values with reference measurements. The results show that the model achieves an overall accuracy of 99% and is successful in laser intensity prediction. To assess real-world performance, the model was tested on the CUPAC dataset, which includes various traffic and weather conditions. Spatial filtering was applied to isolate laser intensities reflected only from the vehicle surface. The highest accuracy, 98.891%, was achieved for the SW-Gloss (White) surface, while the lowest accuracy, 98.195%, was recorded for the SB-Matte (Black) surface. The results confirm that the model effectively predicts laser intensity across different surface reflectivity conditions and remains robust across different channels LIDAR systems. Full article

Historical tempera paints exposed to pollutant gases suffer chemical and mineralogical deterioration which manifests through physical changes. Knowledge about these changes is fundamental to develop strategies for preventive conservation of wall paintings. In this research, binary tempera mock-ups composed of calcite, gypsum or lead white mixed with a proteinaceous binder (i.e., egg yolk or rabbit glue) were exposed to an aging test by using SO₂-rich atmosphere exposure to learn about the degradation mechanisms and forms related to the pigment–binder interaction. Reference (unaltered) and aged mock-ups were studied from a physical point of view, characterizing the morphological changes by using stereomicroscopy and profilometry, color variations by using spectrophotometry, gloss changes, and reflectance changes by using a hyperspectral camera. Also, mineralogical and chemical changes were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Egg-yolk-based paints showed higher chromatic changes than their counterparts made of rabbit glue binder. Also, sulfate and sulfite salts precipitated on the surface of the aged paints regardless of their binder, influencing the painting reflectance which subsequently increased. Egg-yolk-based mock-ups exhibited roughness increases while the rabbit-glue-based paints showed roughness reduction, with the exception of lead-white-based paints. Therefore, the important influence of the type of binder and the interaction between the binder and the pigment on the durability of tempera paints in atmospheres rich in SO₂ was confirmed. Full article

Contemporary muralism is a constantly expanding form of urban art, whose preservation is highly debated and for which no specific preventive conservation measures have been defined. The degradation of painting materials remains a dramatic issue as mural paintings undergo rapid and inevitable chemical–physical reactions, leading to their aesthetic decay and chemical–mechanical disintegration. This work started with interviews with, and questionnaires given to experts in the field from which various needs emerged, including defining a testing protocol for the study of the compatibility and effectiveness of organic coatings to protect street art painted surfaces. Five protective formulations available on the market were selected and applied on mock-ups realized with three different types of paintings (alkyd, acrylic, and styrenic). The efficacy and affinity of the five protective treatments in relation to the different underlying painting layers were investigated. The adopted testing protocol enabled understanding the protection efficacy and compatibility of the different tested formulations in relation to the type of painting and wall preparation. The typology of the underlying paint mainly influences the final aesthetic result, while the application of the primer may play a relevant role in terms of the protection effectiveness, confirming the importance of pre-treating the substrate before painting. The results clearly show that there is still no specific and effective protection system that is appropriate for all commercial paints used by street artists. Full article

The gradual increase in water scarcity due to depletion and/or inadequate use of water resources has affected the automotive sector. In this context, possibilities for water reuse in the pre-treatment tunnel in an automotive painting process were studied and compared with the primary goal of finding the most appropriate and economically viable water recovery solutions, considering a circular economy metric approach. To this end, an experimental campaign of aqueous effluent characterization, with determinations of most relevant chemical and physical parameters, was conducted in a company in the automotive industry sector. To reduce alkalinity and remove surfactants from the effluent of the washing phase, a cation exchange on a weak-acid-based resin was proposed along with a microfiltration membrane system with a recovery efficiency of 88%. The inclusion of subsequent ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis steps proved to be the most suitable for removing salts and biocides from the water of the cooling towers, treating approximately 68% of the water. The techno-economic feasibility was comprehensively evaluated according to the type of treatment used. A cost of EUR 245 thousand was estimated for the treatment of water from the degreasing washing phase (EUR 1.06 per manufactured car), and a cost of EUR 582 thousand was estimated for the treatment of the cooling towers’ water (EUR 2.52 per car). The estimated water income after the treatment systems’ implementation was estimated to be equal to EUR 0.07 per car for the washing stage and EUR 0.13 per car for the cooling towers. Ultimately, this study clearly demonstrated the beneficial contribution of using membrane treatment in the automotive sector’s environmental policy, leading to water reuse and much lower effluent discharge according to the principles of the circular economy. Full article

Porous asphalt pavements need to be cured for 24 h~48 h before they can be opened to traffic. In an emergency, physical cooling methods, such as water sprinkling and air blowing, can be used to accelerate cooling, but the effects of the two methods on the mechanical properties and durability of porous asphalt mixtures are still unclear. In this research, firstly, the dropping and rising temperatures of the pavement surface during the water sprinkling process of newly laid porous asphalt mixtures in real projects were analyzed. The effects of the two conditions of water immersion and water sprinkling on the mechanical properties of porous asphalt mixtures were clarified, and water sprinkling technology for porous asphalt mixtures was proposed. Secondly, the effects of air blowing on the temperature reduction and strength loss of porous asphalt mixtures was analyzed, and the pavement surface temperature control standard that was suitable for air blowing was proposed. Finally, a seven-year observation was carried out on the water sprinkling cooling test section in the actual project. The research results show that water immersion or the sprinkling of water repeatedly during the curing period of porous asphalt pavements reduces the strength of the mixture. It is recommended to use a water amount of 0.3 kg/m² once and sprinkling four times before painting road markings and two times after painting road markings; this was the best water sprinkling cooling process for porous asphalt pavements. The use of air blowing can accelerate the temperature reduction of porous asphalt mixtures, but the mechanical properties of the mixtures are attenuated after air blowing. Air blowing can be carried out when the pavement surface temperature is lower than 70 °C. Compared with the road section without water sprinkling for cooling, the use of the determined process to cool the newly laid porous asphalt mixtures by water sprinkling does not have a significant adverse effect on their durability. There is also no significant difference in the performances of the two road surfaces within a seven-year service. In an emergency, physical cooling methods, such as water sprinkling or air blowing, can be used to accelerate the temperature reduction of the newly laid porous asphalt mixtures, so as to achieve the purpose of quickly opening to traffic. Full article

On the surface of the Cave of Altamira’s prehistoric paintings, a series of active deterioration processes are evident, leading to significant alterations of this invaluable heritage. This study proposes a comprehensive methodology for the systematic recording and management of these alterations. To achieve this, advanced microphotogrammetric monitoring techniques are employed, allowing for the acquisition of very high-resolution images that provide objective and quantifiable data that let us determine the evolution of the alterations. By comparing these images with those from earlier campaigns, the study tracks changes. The data collected through this protocol has helped with the development of new research avenues to understand, among the many alteration processes that impact paintings, the dynamics of water and fluid mechanics affecting the conservation of Cave of Altamira. These investigations help clarify how, why, and at what rate degradation processes such as pigment migration, washing, and bacterial colonization occur. The insights gained from these techniques inform indirect conservation measures aimed at reducing the deterioration of the cave art, located both on the Polychrome ceiling and throughout the rest of the Cave of Altamira. The results underline the importance of regular monitoring and the application of precise, non-invasive techniques to protect rock art from continued degradation. This research provides a model for similar conservation initiatives at other vulnerable heritage sites. Full article

In the last decade, the hyperspectral imaging (HSI) method allowed performing non-invasive analysis in the field of cultural heritage. However, a considerable limitation was given by redundant and time-consuming features, with the necessary application of statistical algorithms and image-processing tools to extract relevant information. In this study, the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) and the Group of Interdisciplinary Physics (GFI) of the School of Engineering (ETSI) of the University of Seville tested the application of three different hyperspectral cameras in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) range for the investigation of an ancient painting. A reference-based procedure was realised to build a starting personal library and to evaluate the best working conditions for non-invasive and non-destructive characterisation with data treatment using the commercially available software Evince^® and Specim IQ^® to apply, respectively, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model functions and the classification method. The evaluation of the protocol was tested by acquiring complementary information by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Ultraviolet Luminescence (UVL) imaging, and Infrared Reflectography (IRR). This exploration established a simplified protocol to analyse the large collection of paintings of the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral of Seville. Full article