Analysis of calcium acetate efflorescences formed on ceramic tiles in a museum environment

Salt crystallization is a major cause of damage in porous materials such as stone, brick and ceramics. The paper reports results of an analytical study on tiles of glazed ceramics that are seriously damaged by acetate salt crystallization. Measurements of the ionic composition of the salt mixture in the tiles and in the efflorescences were carried out. Based on the available information on the phase equilibria in the system comprising of the main constituents chloride, nitrate, acetate, calcium and sodium, the crystallization pathways of the various solid phases are traced. It is shown that a combination of qualitative XRD analysis of the phases present in the efflorescences together with a quantitative determination of the ionic composition is sufficient for the quantitative analysis of major crystalline species in the efflorescences, i.e. Ca3(CH3COO)3Cl(NO3)2 · 7H2O, thecotrichite, and NaCl, halite. The concentrations of these salts are obtained from a solution of the mass balance by least squares analysis. Their formation from the salt mixtures present in the tiles that are subject to acetic acid vapor attack is consistent with the solubility diagram of the above mentioned quinary system. Finally, the possibilities of preventive conservation of salt contaminated ceramics in typical museum environments are discussed.