CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE BUILT IN STONE

The general objective is the knowledge of the nature, behaviour, forms of use and rational conservation of stone materials used as construction, ornamentation and restoration materials.

In order to achieve this objective, the following fields of action are addressed:

⇒  Characterisation of stone materials (granites, sandstones and siliceous conglomerates, carbonate sandstones, limestones, etc.): chemical, mineralogical, petrophysical, physical-mechanical, surface analysis (colour, roughness, energy fluxes -patented method-, etc.), thermal gradients -patented method-, etc.

⇒ Location and identification of quarry materials suitable for possible replacements in actions on monuments and buildings of cultural interest and for new buildings -method developed in our laboratory-. It is based on the application of a statistical method (HJ-Biplot) to the chemical analysis data of rock samples from a monument and its possible quarries of origin.

⇒ Analysis of behaviour, pathologies and diagnosis of the evolution of stone materials used in monuments, according to their intrinsic characteristics and the environmental conditions of the different areas of the buildings.

⇒  Suitability and durability of stone materials, through the use of accelerated ageing tests under controlled conditions, in order to reproduce the processes and mechanisms that have given rise to the main pathologies. In order to carry out these tests, the data relating to the parameters indicative of the different microenvironments present in the building (meteorological data and atmospheric, runoff and subsurface water pollution) are collected and processed.

⇒  Determination of the effectiveness and durability of conservation treatments (desalting/clay poultices -patented method for the control of desalting-, biocides, consolidants and water repellents) of stone materials, in order to give rational proposals for intervention to those responsible for public administrations, companies and technicians in the field, to contribute to a better conservation of the rich and varied Cultural Heritage built in stone existing in our country.