The effects of cleaning chemicals on the surface properties of marble and granite

This study examines the impact of chemicals which are exposed to the stones over the surface properties of marble and granite samples such as surface brightness, roughness, colour change and weight loss. In this context, samples of Bilecik Rosalia Beige Marble ve Aksaray Yaylak Granite, as in the forms they are sold in the market (surface brightener), have been used in the experiments. The impact of acidic (anti-scale, spirit of salt-hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, thinner), basic (bleach, liquid rubber cream, fat solvent, soft soap) and neutral (dish detergant, surface cleaner) type of ten various cleaning chemicals on these samples at the room temparature is studied. These cleaning chemicals are obtained from a grocery store in the market. Concentration of chemicals (concentrated, medium and diluted) and implementation period over the surface of natural stone (0,5, 3,5, 14, 42, 84, 168, 840 hours) are considered as variable parameter. Some of the results obtained in this study can be summarized as following: (i) The main cleaning chemicals that affect the marble surface most negatively and causes serious erosion and hollow are nitric acid, anti-scale and hydrochloride-spirit of salt. The impact of basic and neutral chemicals over the surface of marble is far less than the impact of acidic chemicals. (ii) There has been only color change; very little change on surface roughness and brightness; and no loss in the mass on the surface of granite samples where the acidic chemicals were applied. There has been no notable impact on the surface where basic and neutral charactered chemicals were applied. (iii) When these two natural stones compared especially against the impact of acidic chemicals, it can be stated that granites are more competent than the marbles.