Thermal effects on the physical properties of limestones from the Yucatan Peninsula

The effect of thermal degradation on the compression strength, ultimate compression strain, color and mass loss of four limestones extracted from the Yucatan Peninsula was studied. The samples sets were independently subjected to 25, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C during one hour for each temperature. The thermal degradation of the investigated rocks and their chemical composition, microstructure and porosity is also investigated. The results show a correlation between the mechanical properties, thermal behavior, the presence of minerals and porosity in each type of limestone rock. The variation of the limestones color with temperature was described in terms of standard space color parameters and their diffuse reflectance.