Influence of pore morphology on the durability of sedimentary building stones from Aragon (Spain) subjected to standard salt decay tests

Abstract

The aim of the present article is to identify the influence of the pore morphology on the physical behaviour and durability of natural stone. Fifteen sedimentary rocks commonly used in the cultural and architectural heritage of Aragon (Spain) were characterized. The petrography, porous structure, fluid transport properties and durability of these rocks were analysed. They were classified into two different groups according to the results of the different tests. For each of these groups the physical behaviour was established. A principal components analysis was used in order to examine the correlation between pore structure, hydric properties and durability. The results show that the percentage of pore throats \0.1 lm control the fluid transport properties, have an important influence on stone durability, and can be used to predict resistance to salt decay while the average pore size does not. Stones with a high percentage of pore throats \0.1 lm are less susceptible to salt decay than stones with higher pore size if their pore network is characterized by high tortuosity and low connectivity.

Limestones under salt decay tests: assessment of pore network-dependent durability predictors

“…The link between higher susceptibility and higher amount of microporosity has been proposed since earlier studies (Buj and Gisbert (2010) refer a publication by Russell in 1927) and there are models that relate crystallisation pressure to pore radius or pore throats (Wellman and Wilson 1965;Fitzner et al 1996;Scherer 1999Scherer , 2004Steiger 2005b;Ruedrich et al 2007;Espinosa Marzal and Scherer 2008;. Hence, another kind of durability estimators considers microscopic characteristics (usually measured by mercury injection porosimetry) related to pore-size distribution (Rossi-Manaresi and Tucci 1991;La Iglesia et al 1997;Ordóñez et al 1997;Gauri and Bandyopadhyay 1999; or combination of macroscopic and microscopic parameters of the pore space (Miglio et al 2000).…”

“…Hence, another kind of durability estimators considers microscopic characteristics (usually measured by mercury injection porosimetry) related to pore-size distribution (Rossi-Manaresi and Tucci 1991;La Iglesia et al 1997;Ordóñez et al 1997;Gauri and Bandyopadhyay 1999; or combination of macroscopic and microscopic parameters of the pore space (Miglio et al 2000). However, Buj and Gisbert (2010) proposed that stones with high microporosity (and low porosity) could be more durable in salt weathering conditions as a result of low connectivity and high tortuosity of the pore space.…”

The building stone of the Roman city of Dougga (Tunisia): Provenance, petrophysical characterisation and durability

“…The salt-crystallisation ageing test has not been performed in this study, but a high degree of resistance of the studied rocks to salt decay phenomena can be predicted from the low porosity and the type of the pore size distribution of these rocks, as previously reported (e.g., Buj and Gisbert, 2010;Everett, 1961;Honeyborne and Harris, 1958). The latter authors demonstrated that rocks with a high percentage of pore throats radii < 0.1 mm are less susceptible to salt decay than rocks with higher pore size.…”

“…The total porosity for all lithotypes ranges between 2 and 4%, whereas a majority of pore size radii are < 0.1 mm. This kind of pore size distribution induces a very slow dynamic mobility of solutions inside the rock (Benavante, 2011;Buj and Gisbert, 2010;McGreevy, 1996;Pé dro, 1983Pé dro, , 1993Pé dro and Delmas, 1983;Ruedrich and Siegesmund, 2007). The secondary porosity created by dissolution is mostly closed as suggested by the low values calculated by MIP and by the hydrostatic method.…”

Preparation, characterization and application of fluorinated acrylate copolymer emulsion for the conservation of stone building heritages in Putuo Zongcheng Temple, China

“…In recent years, different kinds of synthetic copolymers have been widely employed on stone buildings as adhesives, consolidants and surface protectives of cultural heritages [8][9][10][11]. Acrylic resins were usually be used for protecting the stone building by coating on it.…”