Flatt.etal:2007

Robert J. Flatt, Michael Steiger, George W. Scherer (2007): A commented translation of the paper by C.W. Correns and W. Steinborn on crystallization pressure.- In: Environmental Geology, 52, 2, pp. 187-203, doi: 10.1007/s00254-006-0509-5

Abstract

Crystallization of salts is recognized to be a major factor of the degradation of porous materials such as stone and concrete. On the theoretical side, there is now general acceptance about the thermodynamic origin of this phenomenon. However, on the experimental side, there are only scarce quantitative data. In this respect, the reference work par excellence is that of Correns (Discuss Faraday Soc 5:267–271, 1949) who shows a good correlation between calculated and measured crystallization pressures. However, concerns about both the thermodynamic derivation and the experimental conditions raise the question about why Correns could have obtained such a good correlation. This issue is discussed extensively in this paper which is organized as a commented translation of a former paper by Correns, co-authored by Steinborn, and that is much richer in experimental details.