After years of tormenting storms and changing weather, buildings begin to age and deteriorate. The reasons for this seems obvious because the buildings are getting older. However, there are also chemical changes occurring that we fail to recognize just. According to recent research, salt crystals are often the cause of buildings aged appearance. Based on their observations, these researchers can use the damage that resulted from salt to accurately predict the weathering process. Inside porous or concrete buildings, salt generates a strong enough force to cause the stone to crumble. Many times the materials used contain salt; for example gypsum and alkali sulfates, both salts, are often used in building materials. Another factor is the weather. Rain, temperature differences, and seawater that accumulate on buildings can cause damage and aging as the salt crystalizes and dries out, thus, causing crumbling.
The most destructive salt, sodium sulfate, exists in two forms; anhydrous and hydrated. When the material is dry, the salt crystalizes in the anhydrous form. Researchers have found the solution to combat the deterioration of buildings is controlling the salt. More salt is dissolved in a supersaturated salt solution liquid, and the greater the supersaturation, the more destructive the salt has the ability to be. Therefore, if the salt in a building becomes supersaturated because of natural conditions, the building is more likely to crumble, and crumble faster. With this information, researchers can predict when a building is likely to erode due to salt. This phenomenon is found in ancient buildings and paintings, as well as current houses. I found this article appealing because I spend my summers on Cape Cod, right on the Atlantic Ocean. We need to replace the shingles on our roof every few years because they start to break down from the exposure to the salt water. I never knew the reason behind this, yet I was always fascinated that salt water could affect our house so drastically in a short amount of time. I think, with this new information, researchers can help individuals, as well as communities who are trying to preserve historic buildings, and design preventative measures for future buildings.
Submitted by Melissa Hoey
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