Leaching behaviour of a crystallisation inhibitor in mortars

This paper investigates the leaching behaviour of sodium ferrocyanide, a known crystallisation inhibitor of sodium chloride, which is added to mortars for mitigation of salt decay. Leaching and depletion of the inhibitor is a practical performance related issue that might over time, make the inhibitor less effective against salt decay. In...

Experimental Study on Properties of Hydraulic Mortars with Mixed in Crystallisation Inhibitors

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is one of the most commonly occurring weathering agents, responsible for a progressive damage in mortar. Current solutions to mitigate salt damage in mortar, such as the use of mixed-in water repellent additives, have often exhibited low compatibility with the existing building fabric. In the last years, research has...

Effect of a mixed-in crystallization inhibitor on the properties of hydraulic mortars

Porous building materials are often subjected to damage due to salt crystallization. In recent years, the addition of crystallization inhibitors in lime-based mortar, has shown promising results in improving durability of this material against salt decay. Lime-based mortars have low mechanical properties and slow setting. They are often replaced...

Effect of mixed in crystallization modifiers on the resistance of lime mortar against NaCl and Na₂SO₄ crystallization

Weathering of porous building materials caused by the crystallization of soluble salts is a ubiquitous problem in the built cultural heritage. Especially lime-based mortars are susceptible to salt decay, due to both their bimodal pore size distribution and low mechanical strength. The addition of crystallization modifiers to mortars during...

Towards a more effective and reliable salt crystallization test for porous building materials: state of the art

The durability of building materials with respect to salt crystallization is commonly determined by accelerated weathering tests, carried out in the laboratory. An effective laboratory weathering test should assess the durability and, in the case of conservation of historic buildings, the compatibility of repair materials with those existing....

Predicting salt damage in practice: a theoretical insight into laboratory tests

Salt crystallization represents one of the major causes for the degradation of building and ornamental stone. As such, it has attracted the attention of researchers, who over the years have progressively unraveled most mechanisms involved in salt damage. Despite this mechanistic understanding, many questions subsist about how to quantitatively...

An integrated methodology for salt damage assessment and remediation: The case of San Jeronimo Monastery (Granada, Spain)

San Jeronimo Monastery (Granada, Spain) was selected as a case study for the investigation of the effect of indoor environmental conditions on salt weathering and for on-site testing of a remediation treatment using crystallization inhibitors on account of the extreme salt damage affecting both the building stone, a biomicritic limestone,...