Porous materials, consolidation method

Parylene-C is of potential interest in conservation because of the unique application method that can result in the formation of thin, uniform, and strong films within porous or fibrous materials. However, the polymer has the disadvantages of being a non-reversible consolidant that is sensitive to ultraviolet-induced oxidation. 

More descriptively, tar sand is an unconsolidated-to-consolidated sandstone or a porous carbonate rock, impregnated with bitumen. In simple terms, an unconsolidated rock approximates the consistency of dry or moist sand, and a consolidated rock may approximate the consistency of set concrete. Alternative names, such as bituminous sand or (in Canada) oil sand, are gradually finding usage, with the former name more technically correct. The term oil sand is also used in the same way as the term tar sand, and the terms are used interchangeably. The term oil sand is analogous to the term oil shale. Neither material contains oil, but oil is produced therefrom by application of thermal decomposition methods. It is important to understand that tar sand and the bitumen contained therein are different components of the deposit. The recovery of the bitumen, a hydrocarbonaceous material that can be converted into synthetic crude oil (Speight, 1990,... 

There are basically three techniques for studying the pore structure of a porous body. The first is what is known as mercury intrusion exploration of the pore structure. The second is the use of gas adsorption studies in which pore structure is derived from condensation isotherms. The third method is a study of sections made through the porous body or the consolidated powder system with subsequent image analysis. In this section we will first explore all mercury intrusion technology and then image analysis of sectioned material. A discussion of the method based upon gas adsorption studies will be deferred until Chapter 10. 

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