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Article
Onsite Testing of Ammonium Oxalate Treatment Applied to Historical Salt-Infested Limestone
Author(s)
Tabitha Dreyfuss and JoAnn Cassar
Full-Text PDF XML 915 Views
DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2017.02.008
Affiliation(s)
Department of Conservation and Built Heritage, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
ABSTRACT
Ammonium oxalate treatment, previously extensively studied on limestone
in the laboratory, was applied to powdering historical stonework (limestone) situated
on the shoreline in the Mediterranean Island of Malta. This paper presents the
results obtained from onsite testing that aimed
at evaluating the
treatment in terms of its aesthetic performance, the depth of treatment, the
mechanical properties of the consolidated stone and the influence on water
transport. To this end, the testing program
included colorimetry, DRMS (drilling resistance measurement system) and water
absorption through the contact sponge method.
This study is Part
One of the final phase of a wider research program which included two previous
phases progressing from treating this same very porous stone type in a
laboratory-based controlled environment to uncontrolled site conditions,
seeking to quantify this treatment’s effectiveness in the field. Results showed
that onsite consolidation was achieved and that although some changes in colour
and water absorption were brought about by the treatment, these were within acceptable tolerance limits. Besides carrying out these treatments and
evaluations directly on the coast, this study anticipates further studies which
will look at rural and urban sites where the types and concentrations of salts
are expected to be different.
KEYWORDS
Historical stonework, limestone consolidation, ammonium oxalate treatment, onsite treatment, onsite testing.
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