Evaluation of the consolidant efficiency of nanosilica based products on Neapolitan Yellow Tuff

Natalia Rovella (a), Silvestro A. Ruffolo (a), Andrea Macchia (b) & Cristina Maria Belfiore
(a) Department of Biology, Ecology, Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, via Pietro Bucci 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy. Corresponding author e-mail: nataliarovella@gmail.com (b) YOuth in COnservation of CUltural Heritage, YOCOCU, Largo dei Quintili, 21, 00175 Rome, Italy. (c) Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sezione di Scienze della Terra, University of Catania, Corso Italia 57, 95129 Catania, Italy

The consolidation of stone materials used in the Cultural Heritage represents a critical issue because of their restoration and conservation. In this regard, Yellow Neapolitan Tuff is not only one of the most used rock but also one of the most affected by degradation phenomena. For this reason, it needs to individuate suitable strategies to preserve efficaciously this material. The consolidant efficiency of innovative nano-silica products was tested in this paper to evaluate their possible use in the conservation of stones employed in Cultural Heritage. The mixtures realized with tuff fragments and consolidants as binder at different concentrations were undergone peeling and point load tests. The results achieved exhibit the suitability of nanosilica products as consolidant in the tuff, suggesting their possible next use in the preservation of stone materials employed in Cultural Heritage.

consolidation, Cultural Heritage, nanoparticles, Neapolitan Yellow Tuff.