Stone Preservatives : Methods of Laboratory Testing and Preliminary
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°" <*« <">, \ tf'V, CO NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 941 \ U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / National Bureau of Standards Stone Preservatives: Methods of Laboratory Testing and Preliminary Performance Criteria ,2 NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS 1 The National Bureau of Standards was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. The Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts research and provides: (1) a basis for the Nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and government, (3) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to pro- mote public safety. The Bureau consists of the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials Research, the Institute for Applied Technology, the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, the Office for Information Programs, and the Office of Experimental Technology Incentives Program. THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the United States of a complete and consist- ent system of physical measurement; coordinates that system with measurement systems of other nations; and furnishes essen- tial services leading to accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce. The Institute consists of the Office of Measurement Services, and the following center and divisions: Applied Mathematics — Electricity — Mechanics — Heat — Optical Physics — Center for Radiation Research — Lab- 2 2 2 8 oratory Astrophysics — Cryogenics — Electromagnetics — Time and Frequency . THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to improved methods of measure- ment, standards, and data on the properties of well-characterized materials needed by industry, commerce, educational insti- tutions, and Government; provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies; and develops, produces, and distributes standard reference materials. The Institute consists of the Office of Standard Reference Materials, the Office of Air and Water Measurement, and the following divisions: Analytical Chemistry — Polymers — Metallurgy — Inorganic Materials — Reactor Radiation — Physical Chemistry. THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY provides technical services developing and promoting the use of avail- able technology; cooperates with public and private organizations in developing technological standards, codes, and test meth- ods; and provides technical advice services, and information to Government agencies and the public. The Institute consists of the following divisions and centers: Standards Application and Analysis — Electronic Technology — Center for Consumer Product Technology: Product Systems Analysis; Product Engineering — Center for Building Technology: Structures, Materials, and Safety; Building Environment; Technical Evaluation and Application — Center for Fire Research: Fire Science; Fire Safety Engineering. THE INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY conducts research and provides technical services designed to aid Government agencies in improving cost effectiveness in the conduct of their programs through the selection, acquisition, and effective utilization of automatic data processing equipment; and serves as the principal focus wthin the exec- utive branch for the development of Federal standards for automatic data processing equipment, techniques, and computer languages. The Institute consist of the following divisions: Computer Services — Systems and Software — Computer Systems Engineering — Information Technology. THE OFFICE OF EXPERIMENTAL TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVES PROGRAM seeks to affect public policy and process to facilitate technological change in the private sector by examining and experimenting with Government policies and prac- tices in order to identify and remove Government-related barriers and to correct inherent market imperfections that impede the innovation process. THE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION PROGRAMS promotes optimum dissemination and accessibility of scientific informa- tion generated within NBS; promotes the development of 'the National Standard Reference Data System and a system of in- formation analysis centers dealing with the broader aspects of the National Measurement System; provides appropriate services to ensure that the NBS staff has optimum accessibility to the scientific information of the world. The Office consists of the following organizational units: Office of Standard Reference Data — Office of Information Activities — Office of Technical Publications — Library — Office of International Standards — Office of International Relations. 1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, D.C. 20234. 2 Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302. Stone Preservatives: Methods of Laboratory Testing and Preliminary Performance Criteria -fc> cfeubV <U Gerald A. Sleater Center for Building Technology Institute for Applied Technology National Bureau of Standards Washington, D.C. 20234 Prepared for: National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 ^ °' °°< £ \ vt % *J ***£AU <tf U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary ^ C NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director Issued Mav 1977 National Bureau of Standards Technical Note 941 Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 941, 79 pages (May 1977) CODEN NBTNAE U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1977 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $2.30 Stock No. 003-003-01727-2 (Add 25 percent additional for other than U.S. mailing). 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Stone Decay and Stone Preservation 2 1 . Program Ob j ective 3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TESTING PROGRAM FOR STONE PRESERVATIVES 4 2 . Identification of Causes of Stone Decay 4 2.2 Laboratory Test Procedures: Simulation of Stone Decay and Evaluation of Test Results 5 2 . 3 Stone Substrate for Test Specimens 6 2 . 4 Stone Preservative Materials 6 2.4.1 Application of Stone Preservative Material 7 EXPOSURE TO COMBINED WEATHERING FACTORS 7 3 . Chamber for Accelerated Decay (CAD) 8 3.2 Evaluation of Specimens after Exposure in the CAD 8 3.2.1 Weight Changes 10 3.2.2 Change in Appearance 10 3.2.3 Water Absorption 11 3.2.4 Water Vapor Permeability 11 3.2.5 Abrasion Resistance 13 3.2.6 Surface Hardness 13 3 . 3 Summary of CAD Testing 14 INDIVIDUAL TESTS 15 4 . Sulf urous Acid Fog 15 4.2 Salt Action 16 4.2.1 Sodium Sulfate Crystallization 17 4.2.2 Sodium Sulfate Penetration 17 4.2.3 Salt Spray Test 18 4.3 Water Condensation/Evaporation..... 19 4.4 The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation Upon Stone Preservatives 20 4.5 Suggested Performance Limits from Simulated Tests of Individual Causes of Stone Decay 21 PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCE CRITERIA FOR STONE PRESERVATIVES 21 5. General Requirements for Stone Preservative Treatments 22 5.1.1 Chemical Compatibility of the Stone Preservative with the Stone... 22 5.1.2 Application of Stone Preservatives 23 5.1.3 Absorption of the Stone Preservative by Stone 24 5.1.4 Environmental Durability of Stone Preservative 25 5.2 The Stability of Stone Preservatives Exposed to Specific Degradation Factors 25 . TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page 5.2.1 Stability of Stone Preservative Treatments to Air-Borne Chemicals.. 25 5.2.2 Stability of Stone Preservative Treatments to Salt Action 26 5.2.3 Stability of Stone Preservative Treatment to Water Condensation/ Evaporation 26 5.2.4 Stability of Stone Preservative Treatments to Solar Radiation 27 5.3 The Stability of Preservative Treated Stone to Combinations of Degradative Factors 27 6 . SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 28 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 30 8 BIBLIOGRAPHY 31 APPENDIX A - CONFORMANCE OF STONE PRESERVATIVES TESTED TO CRITERIA 34 TABLES 1 through 13 35 FIGURES 1 through 24 55 Cover Photo: Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico. Stone Preservatives: Methods of Laboratory Testing and Preliminary Performance Criteria Gerald A. Sleater Although numerous materials have been proposed as preservatives for stone in historic buildings and monuments, their efficacy is difficult to establish. In the work described here, a laboratory research program of accelerated simulated stone decay was used to obtain data on stone preser- vatives and to suggest criteria for their selection. Over 50 materials usable as stone preservatives were tested. Tests to simulate stone decay were of two types: 1. exposure to combined weathering factors using a special test chamber for accelerated decay (CAD) , in which chemical attack, salt and water action, and thermal effects were simulated in one opera- tion; 2. exposure to single causes of stone decay using sulfurous acid fog, sodium chloride fog, water condensation/evaporation cycling, sodium sulfate penetration and crystallization, and ultraviolet radiation. Methods for measuring the effects of the exposures are given together with the test data; these have been used to set limits of acceptable per- formance in preliminary performance criteria for the selection of stone preservatives. The behavior of each stone preservative tested in meeting these criteria is given. No one stone preservative met all criteria. Key words: Accelerated laboratory testing; performance criteria; stone decay; stone preservatives. 1. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 Stone Decay and Stone Preservation Stone decay,