Techniques of thermal analysis applied to the study of cultural heritage

It is increasingly important that chemistry reaches people who have not studied directly this field of science but that, daily, have practices where chemistry is involved in various extents. This is what happens, for instance, in the activities related with the study and the preservation of cultural heritage. In this sense, the present work is a short review of the particular case of techniques based on the thermal analysis and calorimetry applied within the context of the characterization of art and archeological objects, exemplified by various case studies, as the characterization of mortars, preparatory grounds, ancient painting materials and drying oils.