Investigation of Pore and Filling Material Bond in Filled Travertine Used as a Building Material

Abstract

Pores, voids, and cracks reduce the strength and economic value of travertine and limits its use. When used as a building material, travertine is often filled to increase its strength and extend its service life. The present experimental study investigates the bond between the pore filler in cement-based filling materials and travertine. For the purpose of the study, five travertine samples were filled with a cement-based filling material. A polarized microscope was used for the mineralogical-petrographic characterization of the travertines, while an image analysis software program (CLEMEX) was used to determine pore size and the number of travertines. A mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) technique was used to determine the size and the distribution of pores in the travertine, while the pore filling was identified and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The pore structure, the bonding of the filler with the pore and the filler performance were then discussed. There was no gap between the pore filling and the Noche travertine sample. The best pore-fill-travertine bond was formed. An opening at the border of the pore filling and the travertine was visible in the Yellow travertine sample. Shrinkages and collapses were noted in the applied filling process, and filing shrinkage was also noted in the Red, Silver and Light travertine samples, preventing the establishment of a healthy connection between the pore filling and the travertine.