Modern Methods for Materials Characterization and Surface Analysis to Study the Effects of Biodeterioration and Weathering on Buildings of Cultural Heritage

Several methods for material characterization and surface analysis — such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal laser microscopy (CLM), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), petrographic analyses, Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD) — can be used for assessing weathering and biodeterioration effects on stone monuments and buildings of the cultural heritage. Novel DNA-based molecular biology techniques to identify the microbial components of damaging biofilms are also described. This article presents the pros and cons of these methods illustrated in some cases with studies made on the Ibero American cultural heritage.