ABSTRACT
Dolostone samples correspond to typical materials used as construction materials that have been exploited in quarries located in Redueña in the northern province of Madrid (Spain). Samples were studied before and after treatment using Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles in alcoholic solutions obtained by colloidal synthesis. Specimens were subjected to treatment by brush-
concentrations, 5%, 15% and 25%. The specimens were exposed to 75% relative humidity (RH) for 1 month and then at around 35% RH for 15 days. The specimens were characterized by different microscopic techniques including polarized optical light microscopy (PLOM), zoom binocular macroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using the secondary electron detector. Thin sections of samples with different lithological and textural characteristics were prepared for the optical study. The SEM characterization was conducted under the microscope Jeol JSM 6400 equipped with EDS detector (Inca-Link). Digital micrograph™ Gatan Team software was used for the interpretation of the SEM images including the optical roughness profiles. This software allows to calibrate the images so that rows and columns correspond to physical distances. With the correction, the intensity values represent the physical height of the sample. The secondary electron images come primary from the sample topography, so that peaks are bright and valleys are dark.
