Swelling inhibitor for natural stone with a clay/mineral structure
Natural Stone Conservation
Doing justice to the stone
Many natural stones contain swellable clay minerals. These are mostly layered silicates, which are structured like a book. Due to an electrochemical ‘magnetic effect’, they are able to accumulate and release water between the ‘book pages’, i.e. in their intermediate layers, even with a low supply of moisture. In the course of this process, the layer packets are pressed apart like an accordion and contract again when moisture is released. This results in destructive stresses within the stone structure. This damage process is referred to as hygric swelling and shrinkage.
Remmers Antihygro
Slow down weathering with unique swelling reducer
The mode of action of the Antihygro swelling reducer is based on ‘switching off’ the clay minerals. The positively charged metal ions in the intermediate layers, which are responsible for the ‘magnetic effect’, are ‘blocked’ when treated with Antihygro. The result is a significant reduction in hygric swelling, with all other typical stone parameters remaining unchanged. Water-repellent post-treatment with Remmers impregnating agents or silicone resin varnishes further increases the effectiveness. In particular, the absorption of liquid water is reduced by up to 95 % by this water-repellent treatment of the substrate. This water is then no longer available as a trigger for hygric swelling.
Remmers stone reinforcement
Targeted rejuvenation for mineral substrates
The weathering of a mineral building material is always accompanied by a weakening of its structure. This weakening is usually caused by a widening of the original pore structure, rarely by a genuine loss of binder. The central task of a strengthening measure is the targeted filling of the new pore space created by weathering. This is done by introducing an additional, nature-identical binder. In a ‘new’ material, e.g. a freshly broken rock, the strength profile is generally homogeneous, meaning that the strength and elasticity are the same on the surface of the building material and at every point of the cross-section. This condition, which has been lost due to weathering, should be restored by strengthening without affecting other characteristic building material parameters in addition to strength and elasticity.
The variety of possible weathering profiles is just as great as the variety of façade construction materials - from different natural stone varieties to bricks, render and concrete - and the different weather influences. Here it becomes clear that different types of consolidators are required to achieve balanced strength profiles.
The hardener types offered by Remmers differ in terms of the following criteria:
- The ‘binder content’ - the so-called gel deposition rate
- The gel structure - with or without elasticising structural components
- The type of bonding to the substrate
Silicic acid esters - reaction mechanism and setting the course for modifications
All silicic acid ester-based stone strengtheners (Si(OR)₄) precipitate solidifying silica gel (SiO₂aq) when they react with water:
The silicic acid ester itself is a liquid, so in principle it can be introduced into a pore structure without the addition of solvents. The properties of a solidifier, in particular its gel deposition rate, i.e. the amount of silica gel formed in the pore structure, can be varied in a targeted manner by using different mixing ratios of large and small molecules.
In addition to the gel deposition rate, the type and quantity of catalyst and the use of solvents can be varied further with regard to penetration behaviour, reaction speed, etc. The targeted combination and variation of these parameters has resulted in a range of stone strengtheners that offers a wide selection and therefore customisation options for the substrate to be consolidated. All silicic acid ester-based stone consolidators have a decisive characteristic property that sets them apart from other consolidators:
The resulting consolidating silica gel has its own porosity. This so-called secondary porosity ensures that the consolidated material retains its capillarity and water vapour permeability.
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Remmers KSE 100/300/OH/510
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Remmers KSE 300 HV
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Remmers KSE 300 E / 500 E
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Remmers KSE-Module-System
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