Assessment of Wall Salinity in the Selection of Renovation Plaster Systems

Arkadiusz Panuś

doi:10.31648/ts.7092

Abstract

This article presents issues related to assessing the degree of wall salinity to select plaster systems for renovations of damp building walls. The most commonly used salt concentration tests pose many difficulties. If used uncritically, they risk failing to select the right system or its incorrect make. The accuracy of the colorimetric method for testing chloride, nitrate, and sulphate content was analysed to exemplify the magnitude of the problem. Both multi-salt solutions of known concentrations and unknown composition extracted from drillings in the walls of a historical facility were examined. A comparative methodology using ion chromatography as a standard was employed in the research. The analytical methods and the selected modules of the „Statistica” software were used to analyse data and present the results. The colorimetric method has been shown to distort salt concentration values, posing a risk of unsuccessful repair work on high-salinity walls. A method for determining the correction reducing the measurement error has been proposed. The factors affecting the error were also mentioned. Attention has also been drawn to the resolution and application of a method with a correct concentration range intended to improve work efficiency and optimize the costs incurred in renovating the salty wall.

Highlights

When in operation, each facility is continuously exposed to adverse outdoor conditions
The ion chromatography method determined the solutions with a high degree of precision within limits given to prepare the calibration solutions (Fig. 3)
The use of colorimetric methods for measuring salt concentrations for repairing salty walls using renovation plaster technology should be carefully evaluated in each case

Summary

Introduction

Each facility is continuously exposed to adverse outdoor conditions. If the walls are not adequately protected, they may become wet and salty, as the transported water is, always a salt solution. Depending on the magnitude of the phenomenon, the salts cause relatively great damage to building materials due to crystallization. This problem has been known for years. That salt exuded from the soil to such an extent as even to injure the pyramids”. Doehne estimated that in 2002, there were more than 1800 bibliographic entries in the scientific literature on the destruction of porous material caused by salts (Doehne 2002). Many of them have been cited in literature extensive review by Doehne (2002), Goudie, Viles (1997) and Charola (2000)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion