Laboratory Assessment of Selected Protective Coatings Applied on Two Sandstone Types

Abstract

The efficiency of three commercial hydrophobic coatings applied on two types of sandstones was subjected to the tests of water absorption by capillarity, water absorption by complete immersion, and frost resistance. Two days of the curing time of coatings on samples were chosen for the laboratory tests. The effects of the used coatings were different (ambiguous). Two coatings proved their effectiveness and thus, relevance of their use, but different coatings were effective on each type of sandstone. The coating F showed the best efficiency for the Hořice sandstone and coating A for the Malé Skalky sandstone. The third testing coating H was ineffective on both types of sandstone. The water absorption tests by capillarity showed a loss of the coating effectiveness over time. By completely immersing the samples in water, all three coatings lost their effectiveness and the hydrophobic effects disappeared. Applied protective coatings helped to preserve the frost resistance of the Hořice sandstone when looking at the uniaxial compressive strength after 25 freeze–thaw cycles, regardless of their fading hydrophobic effect. In addition, a penetration depth test for Hořice sandstone was performed. The impregnation depth reflects the effectiveness of the coatings and confirmed the results obtained by the water absorption tests by capillarity. The findings presented in the article are also useful in practice, as Hořice sandstone will be mined and frequently used in the future as well.