DOUBLE SUBSTITUTED CARBONATED HYDROXYAPATITE FOR STONE CONSOLIDATION

Abstract

This paper aims with the preparation of Sr2+ and Zn2+ double substituted carbonated hydroxyapatite (Sr-Zn-CHAp) by the nanoemulsion method and to evaluate its consolidation capacity on artificial stone samples. The changes in CHAp lattice parameters were observed by a synergy between the shrinkage and dilatation induced by the two metallic ions, with different ionic radii by comparison with calcium. The changed morphology obtained by calcination was evidenced by SEM analysis. Also, the tendency to agglomerate of the double substituted CHAp as micron- and sub-micron-sized particles with spherical and irregular form was observed. The FTIR, XRD and EDS results confirmed that the CHAp was successfully substituted with Sr2+ and Zn2+ by replacing Ca2+ resulting a AB-type CHAp. The efficacity of Sr-Zn-CHAp as inorganic consolidant for the stone was tested by mechanical strength, resistance at freeze–thaw artificial aging test, thermal shock weathering, colorimetric changes of the artificial stone sample, all the results being correlated with the water absorption test, water repellency, and pore structure changes. By treating the stone with 0.5 g/L Sr-Zn-CHAp led to an improvement of the above-mentioned characteristics, without significant chromatic changes.