Improving the slake durability index values of tuff with a water-based copolymer treatment

Abstract

Tuff has been used as a natural building stone in the construction industry since the earliest times. Tuff is slight, simple to manufacture, and has good isolation qualities, which is why it is used so frequently despite its low strength characteristics and high porosity. In this study, samples of white and pink tuff from the regions of Derbent and Gümele districts of Eskisehir province were treated with a water-based (water-soluble) copolymer bath to evaluate their endurance to atmospheric conditions. Spherical samples were subjected to 30-minute slake durability index testing in a water-based copolymer bath. The index values of the initial spherical samples were contrasted with the index values from the fourth cycle of the spherical samples that had received the copolymer bath treatment. Although the index values of the original spherical samples were determined to be 92.22% and 95.32%, respectively, the index values of the spherical sample sets treated with a water-based copolymer bath were determined to be 98.29% and 98.83%, respectively. The study results indicate that spherical samples with a water-based copolymer bath treatment had a greater impact on improving the slake durability index values compared to spherical samples without treatment.