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Conservation of Building Materials
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Conservation of Building Materials

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2023) | Viewed by 3328

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bruno Sena da Fonseca

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Guest Editor
Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: characterization and analysis of materials; degradation of building materials; built-heritage conservation; stone consolidation and protection; development of innovative products for materials conservation; sustainable materials and products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Degradation of materials is an important source of loss of value in built heritage; therefore, the conservation of constituent materials is key to preserve the cultural significance of notable constructions. A large panoply of complex strategies is available for varied situations; however, most actions involving objects with cultural value, especially direct ones, are incredibly challenging and delicate as they must be effective, comply with conservation principles, and be sustainable. Research must not only guarantee effective options but also compatible options respecting the historic material and ensuring the proper appreciation of the historic asset by future generations.

Understanding the significance of the building, the characteristics of the materials, and the underlying causes of the problems is crucial to undertake the most suitable options, which may implicate traditional strategies or cutting-edge technologies and materials.

This Special Issue aims to divulge research works related to the conservation of building materials, including mortar, natural stone, brick, tile, glass, metal, wood, adobe, and other historic building materials.

Conservation of concrete is emerging due to the significance of some concrete buildings and structures; thus, contributions on cementitious materials are also welcome.

Dr. Bruno Sena da Fonseca
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • construction materials
  • historic materials
  • degradation
  • corrosion
  • durability
  • protection
  • cleaning
  • consolidation
  • repair

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5771 KiB  
Article
Onset of Alveolization Processes in Sandstones Exposed to Salt Weathering
by Marco Ludovico-Marques and Carlos Chastre
Buildings 2024, 14(3), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030706 - 06 Mar 2024
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Sandstones of the Lourinhã Formation were studied. Alveolization is the major form of weathering on the façades of monuments near Peniche in the western region of Portugal. Salt weathering is an important cause of this degradation form. Stones of specimens, similar to those [...] Read more.
Sandstones of the Lourinhã Formation were studied. Alveolization is the major form of weathering on the façades of monuments near Peniche in the western region of Portugal. Salt weathering is an important cause of this degradation form. Stones of specimens, similar to those found in these ancient buildings, were used for an experimental program of artificial salt ageing through the use of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium sulfate solutions, all at 10% (w/w). Salt weathering follow-up was carried out viz. the assessment of the degradation effect on these specimens of lower values of porosity under crystallization–dissolution cycles. Sodium chloride and sodium chloride with calcium sulfate were the more deleterious solutions, causing failure of the specimens after at least 40 cycles of immersion/drying. Surfaces of the sandstone specimens of variety A showed the onset of the alveolization form due to the use of a saline solution of sodium chloride with calcium sulfate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Building Materials)
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17 pages, 5984 KiB  
Article
Adhesion of Historic Tile Fragments in Outdoor Architectural Settings
by Jessica Musacchi, Helena M. A. R. Silva, Susana Cabral-Fonseca, Lurdes Esteves, José Delgado Rodrigues, Maria Paula Rodrigues and Sílvia R. M. Pereira
Buildings 2024, 14(2), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020375 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 554
Abstract
Azulejos are part of Portugal’s most important cultural heritage. However, a large part of this heritage is at risk due to lack of or improper conservation treatments. There are, however, not many studies dedicated to the procedures and materials used in their conservation [...] Read more.
Azulejos are part of Portugal’s most important cultural heritage. However, a large part of this heritage is at risk due to lack of or improper conservation treatments. There are, however, not many studies dedicated to the procedures and materials used in their conservation to guide the choices of conservators/restorers. Through this work, the performances of the adhesives commonly used in azulejo conservation are studied considering the extreme conditions they may experience when in an outdoor environment. Three types of adhesives were studied: acrylics, epoxies, and cellulose nitrates. The adhesives were evaluated for their workability and characterized by FTIR, DMA, and bending tests to obtain information on their adhesion effectiveness and compatibility with the azulejo ceramic substrate before and after artificial and natural ageing. When subjected to mechanical loads, the high strength and stiffness of the epoxy resins could lead to the development of new fractures in the previously undamaged ceramic matrix, making them less suitable for the adhesion of historic tile fragments. Cellulose nitrates revealed a high chemical alteration and the highest degradation rate in the mechanical properties with ageing, showing it to be the least stable in the studied conditions. The acrylic resins proved to be the most chemically stable, with less yellowing and with physical properties that revealed to be the most compatible for the adhesion of the studied azulejo fragments in outdoor environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Building Materials)
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17 pages, 24628 KiB  
Article
Conservation of Defensive Military Structures Built with Rammed Earth
by Miguel Rocha, Paulina Faria and António Sousa Gago
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010238 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 558
Abstract
Earth is a complex material with mechanical and physical behaviors that differ from modern building materials. The conservation of rammed-earth (RE) constructions presents specific difficulties that are challenging to overcome. A lack of knowledge about RE due to its abandonment for decades and [...] Read more.
Earth is a complex material with mechanical and physical behaviors that differ from modern building materials. The conservation of rammed-earth (RE) constructions presents specific difficulties that are challenging to overcome. A lack of knowledge about RE due to its abandonment for decades and interventions adopting materials and repair methodologies designed for conventional constructions have led to inadequate interventions. In the case of historic defensive constructions, the doubts and technical difficulties are even greater due to the nature of so-called military RE (with physical and mechanical characteristics which differ significantly from those of civil, more common RE) and, not least, due to the historical and cultural heritage value of these constructions. Some important interventions have been carried out recently, while others are underway or in the planning stage, and there is a constant lack of information and technical data regarding the best ways to intervene. To fill this gap, the state of conservation of defensive RE structures and the results of interventions carried out throughout history in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula are being assessed. This article sets out a framework for the subject, identifies material and construction techniques and recognises the main causes of RE constructions’ deterioration and decay. With special focus on the most frequent damages detected in historic military defensive structures built with RE, it analyses and discusses the most common techniques that have been used for the repair and conservation of these particular structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Building Materials)
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18 pages, 5144 KiB  
Article
Weathering Mechanisms of Porous Marl Stones in Coastal Environments and Evaluation of Conservation Treatments as Potential Adaptation Action for Facing Climate Change Impact
by Anastasia Michalopoulou, Iason Markantonis, Diamando Vlachogiannis, Athanasios Sfetsos, Vassilis Kilikoglou and Ioannis Karatasios
Buildings 2023, 13(1), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010198 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1273
Abstract
This work presents the methodological approach followed for the study of the interaction of natural stone monuments with the local microclimate (exposure to RH, temperature alterations, wind, marine aerosol). This was implemented with the documentation of the associated weathering phenomena and the study [...] Read more.
This work presents the methodological approach followed for the study of the interaction of natural stone monuments with the local microclimate (exposure to RH, temperature alterations, wind, marine aerosol). This was implemented with the documentation of the associated weathering phenomena and the study of historic climate data of the area. The paper is focused on the main weathering mechanisms of the marly limestone at the Hellenistic theater of Zea in Piraeus, Greece. Based on the weathering phenomena identified, the development of the appropriate mitigation strategy was based on the physical, chemical and mechanical characterization of the natural stones, along with the evaluation of different conservation treatments, considering the characteristics of the coastal environment. Considering the mineralogy of marly limestones, silane-based materials were selected for providing both consolidation and water repellency effects. The evaluation of the conservation treatments was based on the modification of microstructural and water-related properties of natural stone samples, along with their consequent effect on their durability against accelerated aging tests. The results indicated that the design of migration actions proved to be multivariable parameter, depending on the intrinsic stone properties, the environmental parameters and the conservation efficacy of the treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Building Materials)
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