Characterization and reactivity of silicatic consolidants

In this study some results on the reactivity of silicatic consolidants employed for the conservation of valuable artistic and cultural porous materials are discussed. In particular, a colloidal suspension of silica made by particles with an average diameter of 10–15 nm, a sodium silicate and an ethyl silicate consolidant are studied. The chemical–physical characterization of xerogels achieved from the examined products were carried out determining the superficial area (BET method) and the average dimension of particles (SAXS) while the chemical structure of xerogels were investigated through NMR MAS spectroscopy of the 29Si nucleus. The investigation on reactivity between silica and stone support was executed by mixing consolidants with calcite and quartz powder to simplify as much as possible the system otherwise very complex. On silica produced by the three examined consolidants structural differences are revealed and these diversities can be responsible for the dissimilar reactivity of the silicatic systems towards the stone, in particular with regard to the carbonatic component.