Abstract
In this study, nine volcanic tuffs from Armenia, Germany and Mexico were treated with two commercially available consolidants on base of silicic acid ester, as well as different pretreatments with an anti-swelling agent and/or primer components. Prior to the treatment, the tuffs were analyzed regarding their petrography and mineralogy, with a greater focus on their clay mineral content. The effect of the consolidation was evaluated by comparative analyses of petrophysical properties and weathering behavior before and after the treatments. The main goals of this study were to identify a general suitability of different consolidating treatments for different types of tuff, evaluating tartaric acid as a primer component for tuff consolidation and to pursue the approach of finding a molecular answer for apparent tuff consolidation problematics, by testing a consolidation agent with smaller molecule sizes than current products on the market: tetramethoxysilane (TMOS).
Highlights
Volcanic tuff is a widespread material used in countless heritage monuments worldwide (Fig. 1) and considered a problematic stone when it comes to conservation measures
Nine volcanic tuffs that are used as building stones in Armenia, Germany and Mexico were selected: three low porous tuffs labelled as Blanca Pachuca (BP), Blue Sevan (BS) and Loseros (LOS), as well as six moderately to highly porous tuffs Noyemberyan (NB), Cantera Verde (CV), Cantera Rosa (CR), Hoktemberyan Red (HR), Weibern (WB) and San Miguel el Alto (SMA)
After the classification scheme of Schmid (1981) BP, CR, CV, BS and NB can be defined as crystal tuffs
Summary
Volcanic tuff is a widespread material used in countless heritage monuments worldwide (Fig. 1) and considered a problematic stone when it comes to conservation measures. Compared to other popular heritage building stones like marble, sandstone or granite, tuffs usually show higher sensitivity to weathering. The reasons are manifold and often traced back to their diverse depositional environments that cause a strong mineralogical and fabric heterogeneity (Auras and Steindlberger 2005; Steindlberger 2020). The heterogeneous character of the tuffs leads to a wide range of properties and weathering behavior. Increased porosity and capability for water absorption, together with an overall low strength and a. This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on “Building Stones and Geomaterials through History and Environments – from Quarry to Heritage. Insights of the Conditioning Factors”, guest edited by Siegfried Siegesmund, Luís Manuel Oliveira Sousa, and Rubén Alfonso López-Doncel
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