What is Natural Stone Consolidation?
Natural Stone Consolidation and Protection of Architectural Structures
The use of natural stone in structures of historical and architectural value has been around for centuries. The aesthetics, durability, and naturalness of natural stone make architectural structures more appealing. While these structures are aesthetically pleasing and durable, time's destructive effect on everything is evident in these structures. Centuries of physical wear and tear and chemical reactions cause significant damage to historic structures. In today's architecture, various efforts are being made to preserve these structures. One of these is natural stone consolidation, or "consolidation."
What is Natural Stone Consolidation?
Consolidation is the process of restoring the appearance and durability of historical and architectural structures that have lost their strength, structural integrity, and aesthetics over time, and preserving natural stone. This process strengthens the internal structure of natural stone to prevent potential adverse effects. Furthermore, the goal is to halt the progression of deterioration caused by chemical reactions on the surface and extend the structure's lifespan.
Why is Natural Stone Consolidation Needed?
- Global and Atmospheric effects : acid rain, UV rays, air pollution due to increased carbon use
- Hot-Cold Cycle : Expansion and cracking in structures due to extreme heat and cold caused by climate conditions being above normal.
- Crystallization of Salts : Due to the porous structure of natural stone structures, salts entering through water or air gain volume in the event of evaporation and absorption of water, which in turn causes the structure to crack internally and its surface to flake off like a crust.
- Biological Effects : Microflora such as moss, algae, mold, fungi, and lichens settle on the surface and begin to invade it, producing acid. They accelerate surface deterioration by increasing moisture retention.
- Mechanical and environmental effects : Human mobility, dust, stones and sand grains carried by the wind, both physical and chemical erosive effects of rain, extreme weather conditions, disasters, volcanic activities, etc. have great negative effects on the surface and even the core structure of the structure.
As a result of all these effects, problems occur in three layers of the natural stone surface structure:
- Surface Deformation : This is a situation where aesthetic losses on the surface will be experienced to a large extent.
- Weakening or Complete Loss of Structural Stability : Loss of structural integrity that occurs when the minerals that form the main core structure of the structure are damaged.
- Increase in Capillarity and Decrease in Resistance to Water : With the effect of water and salts entering, capillary wear occurs from the center to the periphery of the natural stone structure and in this case, the amount of water and salt taken in increases in direct proportion.
Natural Stone Consolidation Materials and Application Techniques
Ethyl Silicate: This silica-based material penetrates the pores of the natural stone surface and chemically reacts with the moisture within the structure. This reaction results in the formation of silica gel. The silica gel spreads like a network throughout the stone's internal structure, filling weakened areas and increasing mechanical strength. This process prevents any texture deterioration on the stone's surface. Furthermore, this application prevents yellowing or cracking over time. It prevents any blockage in the surface's breathability or porosity, allowing internal moisture to escape, thus ensuring water vapor permeability.
Acrylic Resin-Based and Epoxy Resins: These materials are synthetic polymers. They offer high adhesion and rapid hardening properties. However, after application, they disrupt the porosity and breathability of the natural stone surface. Furthermore, yellowing may occur when the applied surface is exposed to UV rays. Because the material used hardens the surface, cracking may also occur if it expands.
Application Steps
Surface material analysis : Type of stone on the surface, extent of damage on the surface, current absorbency level of the surface and amount of salt entering the surface.
Surface Cleaning : The stage of cleaning the surface from all kinds of micro flora and its derivatives and physical contamination.
Material Application : Determination of the material to be used for consolidation, the equipment to be used to apply the material, and application of the material according to the formulation and user manual.
Drying and surface-material interaction process : It is the process of creating a chemical bond with the surface on which the material is applied after drying.
Trial and Control Phase : The penetration depth of the prepared surface is measured; changes in the durability of the surface and changes in the color and structure of the surface are tested.
How Should Effective Stone Consolidation Be?
- The color and texture of the natural stone surface do not undergo aesthetic deterioration.
- Absorbency differences between the surface and internal structure should be eliminated.
- Capillarity, that is, porosity or capillarity, and breathability of the surface must be preserved.
- In time-based situations, there should be no yellowing, peeling or cracking.
Author: ecotera.net
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