Alteração acelerada do calcário bege Bahia: um ensaio de predição de perda de sua intensidade de brilho em fachadas sob condições tropicais metropolitanas, em orlas litorâneas

Abstract

The mineralogical composition of the Beige Bahia (BB) limestone was characterized by petrographic analysis, XRD, total-rock (TR) chemical analysis, and SEM on figurative elements of lytic texture. The results demonstrated that this type of calcrete is dolomitic (dolomite > 10% in TR), reaching over 50% in its lumpy features. The matrix is primarily calcite, whereas quartz (< 5% TR) and palygorskite are the most common accessory minerals. The changing mechanisms of the BB, as a building covering, were investigated from the loss of brightness, using in natura polished boards in bench, for comparison with observations carried out in situ in a metropolitan coastal area (Recife-PE), under humid tropical climate. Tests of accelerated changeability involving atmospheres with saline saturation (NaCl) and in SO2, attacks by acid solutions (HCl, HNO3, H2SO4), rain water and sea water, were conducted according to the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards/ABNT or experimentally, involving in natura polished test specimen. By considering as critical a brightness intensity ≤ 40, whether for test specimen or for applications carried out in situ, a reliable prediction is possible based on bench data. In most cases, this critical level is reached around the third testing cycle, corresponding to ten years in in situ changing conditions. The most active mechanisms were the gas chamber with SO2 saturation, and the sea water; and the critical brightness was reached between 2 and 2.5 cycles in bench. The set of results did not confirm if the ferric staining and black crusts are of lithogenic origin, whereas “white crusts” are made of gypsum (CaSO4.H2O), by the reaction of H2SO4 with the calcite surface of the BB. Therefore, the inadequacy of the application of this product on external coverings is confirmed, particularly in the presence of sea spray or in metropolitan situations, where the atmosphere is mpregnated with SO2.