Hydric dilation of Mount Nemrut sandstones and its control by surfactants

Abstract Hydric dilation measurements of Mount Nemrut sandstones, using a linear variation differential transformer (LVDT), were used to quantify in order to understand the effect of wetting-drying cycles on Mount Nemrut sandstones. Trials with some surfactants to inhibit swelling, resulting from the clay minerals in the structure, were investigated in order to propose some conservation treatments for the Mount Nemrut monument sandstones. The hydric dilation measurements of surfactant-treated sandstones showed some decrease in swelling. Diaminoalkine (DAA) seemed to be most successful surfactant for the inhibition of clay swelling, which is in accordance with previous studies. In this study, hydric dilation was decreased by 40% with the use of DAA.