Materials characterization and surface analysis techniques to assess weathering of stone in buildings of cultural property

It is important to analyze the chemical and structural composition of the material as well as its mechanical, physical, chemical and biological behavior vs. time (Herrera 2003).

Engineering materials can be classified by their nature as follows: organic (e.g. wood, some polymers); inorganic (e.g. metals and alloys); by their development: traditional (e.g. metals, polymers, ceramics); new (e.g. composites, biomaterials); by their use: structural, functional, decorative, etc.