Performance evaluation of a commercial protective coating through field-exposure tests on three stone substrates

Abstract

In the last decades, there have been several studies on Cultural Heritage regarding the performance of protective and consolidating coatings for the prevention of decay. A coating must have several characteristics such as efficiency, breathability, and must be durable and reversible. In this research work, the performance of a commercial protective product (Fosbuild FBLE 200) was evaluated. This coating is composed of a TiO2 nanopowder dispersed in an aqueous solution of an acrylic polymer. The product, which exhibits depolluting, antimicrobial, water-repellent and self-cleaning properties, has been applied on three different lithotypes: Carrara marble, Noto stone, and Comiso stone. Field-exposure tests were carried out in two different outdoor environments (Catania and Palermo) in order to assess its suitability. Promising results were obtained for the Carrara marble after one year of exposure; however, a decrease in effectiveness was observed at the end of the second year.

Editorial to selected papers from the 2022 IMEKO International Conference on ‘Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage’

“…Indeed, apart from the usual requirements such as protection effectiveness and durability, additional ones are demanded, such as coating reversibility and its full transparency. Bergomi et al [13] present the characterisation of a commercial coating, composed of titanium dioxide nanopowders dispersed in an acrylic polymer. The protection effectiveness has been assessed after depositing the coating on different substrates, namely Carrara marble, Noto stone, and Comiso stone.…”