title: Performance evolution of hydrophobic treatments for stone conservation investigated by MRI.
abstract: 1H-MRI has been applied to the evaluation of the performances of a hydrophobic polymer (Paraloid B72), widely used for the conservation of monumental buildings and other stone artifacts. By this technique it has been possible to visualize the water diffusion in a treated rock material (Pietra di Lecce, a highly porous Italian biocalcarenite) and then indirectly the spatial distribution of the polymer in the rock. The effects of wetting-drying cycles on the hydrophobic efficacy of the acrylic polymer in the inner layers of the rock were also studied. A notable decrease in the water-repellence inside the stone was detected and attributed to a loss of adhesion of the polymer to the substrate, promoted by the action of water.
authors.affiliation: Dept. ICMA, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Borgia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camaiti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cerri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fantazzini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piacenti
mesh_terms: D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D002119:Calcium Carbonate