|
NCPTT is a research, technology, and training center of the National Park Service located within the US Department of Interior. NCPTT is part of the NPS Washington Support Office and is under the direction of the Associate Director for Cultural Resources.
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) was first proposed in an Office of Technology Assessment Report. This report led to the National Historic Preservation Act, Title IV, which established NCPTT at Northwestern State University of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
The Center is organized into the following departments:
|
Terrazzo, which is descended from the art of mosaic, is a construction material made of small pieces of marble or other hard stones embedded in a cement matrix. Historically terrazzo has been used widely as a decorative treatment to walls or as flooring in government, education, financial, and other public buildings throughout the United States, and its use continues today. Vitrification is a chemical-honing process whereby a proprietary acidic chemical treatment is buffed into the terrazzo using steel pads. This process creates heat on the surface of the flooring, and the applied mixture, once heated, is said to chemically change the surface of the terrazzo for the better, making it harder and more durable and sealing it against contaminants.
In order for vitrification to be considered a valid treatment, a number of questions about its performance and effects have to be addressed. What is its durability? Does it seal the terrazzo or allow it to breathe? To what extent is there a chemical change at the surface, and is it likely to be reversible? Does the finish meet accepted standards for slip resistance and gloss? Does it trap moisture or allow it to move freely? This study addresses these questions with a variety of tests and summarizes the results to aid in evaluating vitrification’s impact on historic terrazzo.
|
