Modifying the consolidation depth of nanolime on Maastricht limestone

Abstract

Suspensions of lime nanoparticles for stone consolidation have been widely studied in the last decades. However, there are still limitations assigned to the heterogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles within the stone matrix. This paper proposes a new method to achieve an in-depth homogeneous distribution of calcium hydroxide nanoparticles in Maastricht limestone, which consists of applying water immediately after the application of the consolidant. The work also demonstrates the reliability of an imaging technique using differential X-ray transmission radiography for the mapping of the consolidation action without requiring the use of labeling substances.