The use of modified Zr-nPropoxide in the consolidation of calcite: A preliminary study focused into the conservation of cultural heritage

The monomeric precursor Zr-npropoxide was modified using chelating agents. The resulting sols were used to compose a consolidant sol that included coupling agents selected based on previous studies done by ourselves, the hydrophobic agent trimethyl methoxysilane (TMS) and mesitylene as drying control chemical additive (DCCA). The sols were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In a later stage calcite powder was impregnated with the sols and studied by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFT). According to the DRIFT results new bands appeared, that indicate interactions between the coupling agents and calcite. The Kratky plots obtained from the sols indicate that in all cases fiber-like oligomeric structures were obtained, having a fractal dimension value 1.60.