Characterization of travertine stones from Turkey and assessment of their durability to salt crystallization

Abstract

The travertine is used in the construction industry for ornamental purposes such as exterior and interior cladding and floor tiles. Travertine, which is a carbonate-stone, deteriorations over time like other porous building stones. Salt crystallization is one of the main reasons for the degradation of building stones. Therefore, examples of three types of travertine from Turkey and commonly recognized worldwide were tested for salt crystallization resistance. The travertine samples tested were subjected to aging tests through salt crystallization (sodium sulfate and sodium chloride) cycles to simulate the deterioration phenomena. In terms of support for these studies, first, the petrophysical properties of travertine were determined. Travertine samples were characterized by mineralogical-petrographic (optical microscope, SEM), chemical (XRF), and mechanical-physical tests. After the aging process, changes in some petrophysical properties of the tested travertine were studied. Changes in the tested travertine structure after these aging tests were determined using SEM, uniaxial compressive tests, and ultrasonic wave measurements. According to results after the salt crystallization tests, all tested travertine had a dry weight loss of less than 1.0%. All travertine samples showed a reduction in the compressive strength and ultrasonic velocity after the crystallization tests. The uniaxial compressive strength values after salt crystallization tests of Denizli, Emirdağ, and Kütahya travertine samples indicate a decrease of about 59.83, 88.43, and 44.23% on sodium sulfate, and 34.30, 44.23, and 24.85% on sodium chloride solution, respectively. After sodium sulfate and sodium chloride test in Denizli, Emirdağ, and Kütahya travertine, ultrasonic velocity values decreased by 59.94, 54.32, 68.63%, and 49.60, 46.79, 61.83%, respectively.