The durability of natural stone - a detailed guide

The Durability of Natural Stone - A Detailed Guide

Introduction • When we are going to define the durability of a material, it is the term used for an ability of a material to stay for a service life within the surrounding milieu, even without any damage or unforeseen maintenance requirement.

In simple words, natural stone should have resistance to various • Weathering actions, including humidity, heat, frost/cold, wind, water, and Sun effects. • Chemical attacks, including sewage, corrosion, carbonation, pH, and spills.

What Are Parameters to Measure Durability?

In practical life, construction industry apply three main metrics, such as • Splitting due to layering impacts.

• Crumbling due to orientation and bonding for grains/clasts.

• Cracking due to human-oriented breaks and natural fissures.

How to Test the Durability of Natural Stones?

• Accelerated Laboratory Durability Tests: freeze-thaw cycling, wetting–drying, and salt crystallization resistance.

• Milieu Tests: complex environmental testing in test cabinets.

• Exposure site testing.

Accelerated Weathering Exposure

Staining

Surface Spalling

Advanced Surface Spalling

What Are Durability Specifications for Different Natural Stone Types?

We know general classifications of the natural rocks used in the construction industry is based on the mineral content and composition of the rocks. Siliceous rocks have silica as predominant element while calcareous rocks have calcites.

Durability (Physical property) Testing Results of Quartzite Stone: Tests Description Results/value Density

Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance.

2.3 to 2.4 Kg/cm3

Loss on Ignition

A small quantity of quartzite is heated, thereby letting the volatile substances be released.

Less than 0.5%.

Flexural Strength

It is the property of the rock which defines its ability to defy stress

16-40 N/mm2.

Water Absorption

The ability of the rock to soak water.

As less as 1 – 1.2%.

Hardness

It refers to the strength of the rock.

7 units on Moh’s scale.

Compressive Strength

It is defined as the load that the rock can withstand 90 to 140 N/mm2. without undergoing distortion.

Durability (Physical property) Testing Results of Granite Stone Tests

Silver Grey Granite

Dark Grey Granite

Beige Granite

JC/T205-92(96) Specifications

Rock Type

Grenodiorite

Alteration Diorite

Fin Biotite Granite

Water Absorption (%)

0.28

0.18

0.24

1.00 Max

Density (g/cm3)

2.64

2.78

2.65

2.50 Min

Flexural Strength (MPa)

10.8

24

16

8.0 Min

Compressive Strength (MPa)

174.2

198.2

144.8

60.0 Min

92

100

Shore Hardness 101 (HSD)

Durability (Physical property) Testing Results of Sandstone: Tests

Results/value

Hardness

6 to 7 on Moh’s Scale

Density

2.32 to 2.42 Kg/m3

Compressive Strength

365 to 460 Kg/m2

Water Absorption

Not more than 1.0 %

Modulus of Rupture

197-200 Kg/cm2

Porosity

Low to very low

Conclusion • We have seen how calcareous stones are differing from the siliceous stones in hardness, density, water absorption, porosity, and modules of rupture like parameters. Therefore, stone experts in the industry prefer predominant use of calcareous stones in interior applications while siliceous for exterior applications. • Granite and quartzite are the best options for kitchen countertops and similar applications in the interior spaces while Travertine stone is the number one choice for swimming pool deck and patio like exterior applications.

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