Functional Nano-Hydroxyapatite for Applications in Conservation of Stony Monuments of Cultural Heritage

Stony monuments must continuously be safeguarded from damage caused over time, in particular from the detrimental effects of weathering. One of the new environmentally-friendly (nano) materials for stone reinforcement, particularly suitable for marble and calcareous (limestone, sandstone) artifacts, is Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 hydroxyapatite (HAp), which has a considerably lower dissolution rate and solubility compared to CaCO3 calcite (the building block of marble materials): thus, HAp has been proposed for the protection of calcareous monuments against acidic rain corrosion. Promising results have been obtained, but further optimization is necessary as the treated layer is often incomplete, cracked and/or porous. Several parameters need to be optimized, in this way a homogeneous layer can be obtained, and consequently the formation of metastable can be avoided, soluble phases instead of HAp. These include: the pH of the starting solution; the effect of organic and inorganic additions in particular, that of ethanol, which is known to adsorb calcite, thus possibly favoring the growth of the HAp layer. The formation of HAp nanoparticles and their application on stony substrates has been investigated by means of a multi-methodological approach based on scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, small- and/or wide-angle x-ray scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and finally, in situ measurements of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and acid attack preliminary tests on stony substrates.