EFFECT OF ALKOXYSILANE-BASED TREATMENT ON THE DURABILITY OF NORTH CYPRUS STONES FOR CONSTRUCTION

摘要

Limestones are generally vulnerable to various weathering effects, hence, protectionand consolidation of them is necessary. Locally available limestones of NorthernCyprus have been used in both historical buildings dated back to the 16th century forconservation applications and new buildings mostly as a cladding material. However,certain decay patterns exist on these stones. In the current study, the service lifeof Cyprus stones was inspected. Alkoxysilane-based consolidation and protectiontreatments were applied on new quarried stones to enhance the stone properties andaged stones to conserve and protect the architectural heritage. Service life assessmentwas performed by applying accelerated aging tests on both new and aged stonesbefore and after treatments. The treatments improved the physical, mechanical anddurability properties of the stones in terms of unchanging the water vapor diffusionresistance factor, decreasing the porosity and the water absorption ratio, increasing theultrasound pulse velocity, the compressive and the flexural strengths, and improvingthe resistance of the stones against wetting-drying, freeze-thaw, salt crystallizationand SO2 vapour effects. The combination of consolidation and protection treatment(K2) was more efficient on the properties of the stones compared to only protectiontreatment (K1) due to the better penetration capacity, higher decreasing ratio of theporosity, and higher improvement of the physical, mechanical and durability properties.The treatments also improved the properties of the aged stones; thus, it may beinferred that treatment would benefit the conservation of historical buildings.