Influence of petrographical characterístics in the penetration of consolidants in porous building stones

• Main Authors: R. M. Esbert, F. Díaz-Pache
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 1993-06-01
• Series: Materiales de Construccion
• Online Access: http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/681

This paper describes a study of the penetration capacity of a consolidant frequently used in restoration —ethyl silicate— applied to two monumental stones with different porosities and pore geometries: the Hontoria limestone (Burgos) and the Laspra dolomite (Asturias). The relation between mode of application and penetration into the rock, and changes in porosity and pore geometry in the treated rocks, are discussed. Mercury porosimetry has been employed to measure both the depth of penetration of the treatment and its influence on the void spaces in the rock. The results obtained reveal that the most porous rock is not always that which most easily admits the treatment solution, and that the penetration of a treatment product is also influenced by the petrophysical properties of the rock.