Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces
Natural weathering of carbonate building surfaces exposed to outdoor conditions can be effectively tackled by appropriate products. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-zirconia (n-ZrO<sub>2</sub>) as a consolidant for calcite surfaces. Sorption ki...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/3/492 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850068553377513472 |
|---|---|
| author | Matea Urbanek Teba Gil-Díaz Johannes Lützenkirchen Valter Castelvetro |
| author_facet | Matea Urbanek Teba Gil-Díaz Johannes Lützenkirchen Valter Castelvetro |
| author_sort | Matea Urbanek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural weathering of carbonate building surfaces exposed to outdoor conditions can be effectively tackled by appropriate products. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-zirconia (n-ZrO<sub>2</sub>) as a consolidant for calcite surfaces. Sorption kinetics were investigated in batch experiments by applying aqueous dispersions of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> onto model, crushed Apuan marble samples of different bead sizes. Adsorption and desorption by the action of simulated rainwater as an environmentally relevant leaching solution were investigated. Adsorption studies revealed a good chemical affinity between n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> and calcite, while desorption resulted in <6% release of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> and 100-fold lower solubility for 1 mm-sized beads compared to controls. These results suggest that n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> may adsorb efficiently to calcite and protect the surface from dissolution. The results of further tests performed on artificially aged and consolidated samples of Apuan marble indicate that the application of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> only moderately affects water vapor permeability, water absorption coefficient, and drying behaviour. Therefore, no harmful effects are expected from the treatment. Micromechanical tests showed slightly increased mechanical strength after treatment. The obtained results highlight the effectiveness of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> as a surface consolidant and protective agent for calcite. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f8bed3015e84b9f9dcbb426a5f80e58 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f8bed3015e84b9f9dcbb426a5f80e582025-08-20T02:48:02ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-02-0115349210.3390/buildings15030492Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural SurfacesMatea Urbanek0Teba Gil-Díaz1Johannes Lützenkirchen2Valter Castelvetro3Materials Testing Institute, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07749 Jena, GermanyInstitute for Nuclear Waste Disposal, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyNatural weathering of carbonate building surfaces exposed to outdoor conditions can be effectively tackled by appropriate products. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nano-zirconia (n-ZrO<sub>2</sub>) as a consolidant for calcite surfaces. Sorption kinetics were investigated in batch experiments by applying aqueous dispersions of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> onto model, crushed Apuan marble samples of different bead sizes. Adsorption and desorption by the action of simulated rainwater as an environmentally relevant leaching solution were investigated. Adsorption studies revealed a good chemical affinity between n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> and calcite, while desorption resulted in <6% release of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> and 100-fold lower solubility for 1 mm-sized beads compared to controls. These results suggest that n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> may adsorb efficiently to calcite and protect the surface from dissolution. The results of further tests performed on artificially aged and consolidated samples of Apuan marble indicate that the application of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> only moderately affects water vapor permeability, water absorption coefficient, and drying behaviour. Therefore, no harmful effects are expected from the treatment. Micromechanical tests showed slightly increased mechanical strength after treatment. The obtained results highlight the effectiveness of n-ZrO<sub>2</sub> as a surface consolidant and protective agent for calcite.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/3/492nanoparticlessorption kineticsinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometryzeta-potentialbuilt heritagenatural stone |
| spellingShingle | Matea Urbanek Teba Gil-Díaz Johannes Lützenkirchen Valter Castelvetro Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces Buildings nanoparticles sorption kinetics inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zeta-potential built heritage natural stone |
| title | Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces |
| title_full | Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces |
| title_fullStr | Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces |
| title_short | Nano-Zirconia as a Protective and Consolidant Material for Marble in Architectural Surfaces |
| title_sort | nano zirconia as a protective and consolidant material for marble in architectural surfaces |
| topic | nanoparticles sorption kinetics inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zeta-potential built heritage natural stone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/3/492 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mateaurbanek nanozirconiaasaprotectiveandconsolidantmaterialformarbleinarchitecturalsurfaces AT tebagildiaz nanozirconiaasaprotectiveandconsolidantmaterialformarbleinarchitecturalsurfaces AT johanneslutzenkirchen nanozirconiaasaprotectiveandconsolidantmaterialformarbleinarchitecturalsurfaces AT valtercastelvetro nanozirconiaasaprotectiveandconsolidantmaterialformarbleinarchitecturalsurfaces |