Inasmet-Tecnalia certifies the good state of 'The comb of the wind' of Eduardo Chillida

The technical report on the State of conservation of 'The comb of the wind' has been presented Wednesday at the Chillida Leku Museum at the opening of the 5th International Conference on Materialografía and microstructural characterization, organized by Inasmet-Tecnalia in collaboration with the aforementioned Museum and Kutxa Gipuzkoa.

In the event participated Javier Moles, Director of Inasmet-Tecnalia technological services; Angel María Irisarri, Principal Researcher of the automotive unit of Tecnalia and Juan José Añorga, responsible for the center of characterization Microestructural of Inasmet-Tecnalia.

The study of 'The comb of the wind', which began on January 29, has included the use of technical non-destructive materialográficas, in order not to damage the sculpture.

The report reveals that "the non-destructive examination of the comb of the wind has become clear that the State of conservation of the same is satisfactory, not requiring any additional protective action immediately, since soothing look that ensures the integrity of the same".

Also, it concludes that "the oxide layer that lines the steel has a continuous character with just some small lakes inside, but that do not constitute a preferential way to corrosive attack". Accordingly - adds the report- ' is this layer of oxide which has the appropriate protective action of sculpture against the inclement weather and the sea water which could be deposited in the same." In addition, the presence of chlorides that could cause a corrosive attack is limited practically to the most superficial level of this oxide layer. "His penetration to the interior has been very light, without having bequeathed to really attack the steel".

Angel María Irisarri, author of the study, has stressed "the success that took Eduardo Chillida in the choice of steel as a material of the 'comb of the wind', not only from the aesthetic point of view, but also in terms of its good performance according to the chosen place to locate the sculpture".

The 5th International Conference on Materialografía and microstructural characterization, which will be held between now and next Friday in Donostia (San Sebastián), are intended to present the latest advances in the techniques of analysis of the structure of materials, as well as innovation in the field of interpretation.

These workshops are intended to keep the materialografía and microstructural characterization at the forefront of new technologies. For this reason, the days will serve as a Exchange of technical information and experience among international experts of recognised prestige.

Steels, castings iron, alloys of aluminium, copper, titanium, nickel, and new alloys, composite and ceramic materials, biomaterials, Nanomaterials and applied techniques of testing by optical or electronic microscopy, are some of the issues on which the photographic material may occur to participate in the contest and in the workshops. The theme can cover any area related to characterization metalográfica of materials, from the techniques of preparation and structural analysis, to the interpretation of structures.

Inasmet-Tecnalia has extensive experience in the field of the materialografía, science that analyzes the structure of materials in order to be able to learn more about its benefits and potential applications at a microscopic level.

The International Conference on Materialografía and characterization Microestructural have collaboration as co-organizers of Kutxa and the Chillida Leku Museum, as well as the usual sponsorship of Beortek, Biometa, Isaza, which has been incorporated for this new edition the company Neurtek and the Lenbur Foundation.

An exhibition on 'The world of materials', a photo competition on the structural analysis of materials and practical materialográficas workshops will complement the technical sessions.