The Crystallization Effect of Sodium Sulfate on Some Italian Marbles, Calcarenites and Sandstones

Soluble salts are compounds found inside ornamental rocks and building stones exposed to atmospheric agents in environments rich alkaline metal ions, such as sodium potassium. The damage induced by their crystallization those materials, used build monuments architectural structures of great importance, is an unsolved problem. Sodium sulfate one the most common harmful salt these constructions. In this work, we studied resistance through time wet-drying cycles some natural (calcarenites, marbles, sandstones) that have been utilized historical architecture Italy. Samples were freshly cut thermally aged simulate increasing decay. Induced porosity degraded samples was high calcarenites, medium low sandstones. Specimens subjected artificial thermal aging lost a major percentage mass compared non-weathered ones, when affected soluble salts. With study, observed different wetting drying degrade faster due action salts, not cycles.