What is the effect of efflorescence on brick?

Effects of Efflorescence: Effects of efflorescence is damp wall leading to various damages like unhygienic conditions, decay, dry rot of woodwork, disintegration of masonry, damage to furniture and internal decorations, crumbling of plaster, etc.

What are the factors affecting efflorescence?

Efflorescence is particularly affected by temperature, humidity, and wind. In the summer, even after long rainy periods, moisture evaporates so quickly that comparatively small amounts of salt are brought to the surface.

What is the porosity of brick?

The percentage of porosity significantly reduces from 39.33\% to 5.87\% when sintered from 1000°C to 1250°C. Bricks sintered at 1200°C exhibited the highest strength of 89.5 N/mm2.

What causes efflorescence on brick walls?

During construction, water used in cement and mortar mixtures can start the process, dissolving salts in building materials it contacts. Water dissolves salts and moves them to the surface of brick walls or cement foundations. As water evaporates, the salts are left behind, which you see as efflorescence.

Why porous microstructure of a brick can result in efflorescence?

Clay: Building brick and face brick consist of clay, which contains salts that are highly soluble. Clay may react with common building salts like calcium sulfate that result in efflorescence. If sufficient water is present in backings, salts may dissolve, causing the backing materials to effloresce.

Why efflorescence is minimum during humid conditions?

Efflorescence Occurs : When The Vapour Pressure Of Hydrated Crystals Exceeds The Vapour Pressure Of The Atmospheric Humidity. Hence efflorescence is minimum during humid conditions.

What is the pH of efflorescence?

When this author tested the pH of masonry construction, areas without efflorescence had a pH ranging from 8 to 12; areas exhibiting efflorescence were above 12. Most paint manufacturers recommend cementitious materials have a pH of less than 12 before painting.

How do you prevent efflorescence in bricks?

Always cover the brickwork at the end of the working day (both the visible and cavity sides). Use pure water Do not use tap water with chlorides, and do not use rainwater (risk of algae formation). Use clean sand, not sand that may be contaminated with sea sand, salts etc.

How do you find the porosity of a brick?

You could determine the surface by a BET approach. you can immerse brick in water and weight it before and after immersing. Then, calculate porosity by dividend the wet brick on dry brick. BET instrument will give you the volume of mesopores (pores, smaller than 100 nm) only.

Why do bricks turn white?

Efflorescence is a crystaline, salty deposit that occurs on the surfaces of bricks, concrete and other masonry products. It is white, sometimes a brilliant white or an off white colour. When salt loaded water reaches the surface of the brick, air evaporates the water, leaving the salt behind.

What is the difference between efflorescence and white mold?

Differences Between Efflorescence & Mold Mold is a fungus, efflorescence is moisture that evaporates into salt deposits. Efflorescence will turn into a powder when touched, while mold will not. Efflorescence is white, yellow or brown, while mold can be any color.