BEHAVIOR OF THE BRICKS IN THE CORFU VENETIAN FORTRESS

The behaviour of bricks in an environment containing soluble salts is studied. The soluble salts originate from the sea environment and migrating salts from mortars. The bricks are characterized with respect to their composition and the technology of their firing. Their structural and microstructural characteristics are assessed by compressive strength and mercury porosimetry. These investigations permit the evaluation of the susceptibility of the bricks to decay agents. This evaluation of the chemical and physical changes is performed according to the depth in the brick from the surface. The brick decay action was studied by mineralogical microscopic observation, physical analysis methods and classical chemical analysis. This research includes scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis (energy dispersive analysis and wave dispersive analysis), x-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, infrared analysis, and chemical analysis of soluble salts (cations and anions) by atomic absorption, ionic chromatography and classical analysis. Analogies with the manufacture of bricks in other locations have also been identified