Comparative Evaluation of the Morphological Characteristics of Nanolime Dispersions for the Consolidation of Architectural Monuments

ABSTRACT

This work studies the morphological characteristics of four different laboratories synthesized nanolime dispersions, focusing on the characteristics of the polar dispersion medium and the increase of the water content in the final dispersion. An innovation of this research is the incorporation of distilled water that is enriched with O₂ nanobubbles (NBs) as an alternative aqueous dispersion medium, with a potential of surfactant action. The evaluation of the dispersions was based on the morphological, chemical and the mineralogical characterization of nanoparticles, their stability and their penetration potential in two porous substrates. The use of the 2-propanol resulted in the reduction of nanoparticle size and the absence of agglomerates. The combined use of 2-propanol and distilled water enriched with O₂ NBs was considered also beneficial since it resulted in dispersions with slightly reduced kinetic stability but, with enhanced penetration in the porous substrates.

KEYWORDS:

• Architectural heritage
• calcium hydroxide dispersions
• consolidation
• nanolime
• O₂ nano-bubbles (NBs) enriched water

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Prof. Eleni Efthimiadou and Dr. Christos Trapalis for discussing the results and providing access to the necessary analytical equipment.

Additional information

Funding

This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Find ESF) through the Operational Programme  “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning“ in the context of the project “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research“ (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarship Foundation (ΙΚΥ).