Evaluation of the efficiency of consolidants on Hungarian porous limestone by non-destructive test methods

Abstract Three types of porous limestone from Sóskút quarry and two limestone types obtained directly from Matthias Church of Budapest (both in Hungary) were used to test the performance of five stone consolidants. The quarry specimens were treated under laboratory conditions by saturation. Three types of silicic acid ester, an aliphatic uretan resin and a polymethyl methacrylate were applied to the stone. Physical parameters such as density, porosity, ultrasonic sound velocity and Duroscope rebound value were measured on untreated and treated samples. The absorption rate of different consolidants was also detected. The physical properties of untreated and treated specimens were compared in order to analyze the performance of the consolidants. Duroscope tests have shown that after consolidation there is an increase in surface strength