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mechanical pump apparatus. The case study of the wall-paintings’ consolidation in the church of “The
Virgin Mary Dormition” in Gelanthi Mouzakiou, Karditsa
1
Conservation Technician of Works of Art, owner of the "Conservation and Restoration Centre of Byzantine
Heritage”, Pili, Trikala, Greece
2
Conservator of Antiquities and Works of Art, professor of TEI Larissas, department of Karditsa, partner of
the "Conservation and Restoration Centre of Byzantine Heritage”
3
Conservation Technician of Works of Art, partner of the "Conservation and Restoration Centre of
Byzantine Heritage”, Pili, Trikala, Greece
4
Conservator of Antiquities and Works of Art, Director of the Conservation Department of “The City of
Athens Museum”, external partner of the "Conservation and Restoration Centre of Byzantine Heritage”
*dtsipotas@yahoo.gr
ABSTRACT
A device for the infusion of grouts in murals’ substrates is introduced. Additionally, the results of its
application for the consolidation of a wall-painting’s surface with respective pathology, is examined. A short
literature review on methods previously used, as well as the parts and operation of the “Sistema di micro-
iniezioni e fugatura” are documented. The device enables real-time instrumental measurement of the mortar
injection process, with precise pressure regulation, quantity of the enema and removal of infused material.
The calibration controls in order for a perfectly safe application to be achieved are presented. Also described
are the technical problems and modifications made to individual components from the apparatus
manufacturer, after the in situ technical observations. The wall-paintings conserved are in the church of “The
Virgin Mary Dormition”, in Gelanthi, Mouzaki district, Karditsa prefecture, Greece and date in 1843. The
mural’s substrate pathology was complete loss of areas, detachments from the stonemasonry, plastic
deformities and cracks, which in all cases had carried the painting surface along. Conclusively, the pros of
the apparatus versus the traditional method of manual enemas are evaluated. Through the overall assessment
of the equipment its suitability in mural’s substrates and mortars consolidation is eventually established.
INTRODUCTION
Church architecture
Wall - paintings
Where substrate losses occur, four mortar layers are clearly distinguishable. A layer of lime-mortar is
used for the smoothing of the masonry, followed by a layer of soil with straw particles and a layer of coarse
lime-mortar. A final layer of fine lime-mortar acts as carrier for the painting surface too. The frescoes of the
nave were made “a secco”. This is evident due to the peeling of the paint like a thin film, which means that it
was placed with a binder other than the mortar itself, thus creating a different layer [1].
Definition
Grout is a thin binding mortar containing an amount of water so that it has the consistency of a
viscous liquid in order to be poured or pumped into joints, spaces, cracks, voids and (to some extent) pores,
within masonry systems with the purpose to fill them [2], [3], [4]. The process of the consolidation of a
structural system with injecting grouts is called grouting [5].
Grouting is applicable in the repair of masonry from the beginning of the 19th century [6], [7]. The
use of injections of suitable fluid mixtures to reinstate adhesion of parts that are partly detached from the
wall structure is nevertheless still gaining a widespread acceptance [8], [9]. A common consequence of the
stratigraphic nature of wall paintings is that a separation between the strata easily occurs [10]. Grouting aims
to address this lack of adhesion occurring within the render layers and support of a wall-painting in situ [11],
[12]. Evidently, particular care has to be taken for the adequate execution of the grouting intervention.
Practical experience revealed a series of problems and highlighted the need for detailed guidelines in order to
achieve a satisfactory application. Such guidelines should comprise, along with the aforementioned relevant
performance and working criteria, with main requirements for grouting equipment and the injection
procedure itself [13]. According to Miltiadou [14], since masonry in historic buildings is especially
heterogeneous with not easily defined mechanical properties, the up-to-date experience in civil engineer
grouting research can only be used indirectly and indicatively, after all other parameters have been
quantified. Consequently, the technical standards applicable in these areas have little direct effect in
conservation science.
Grouting can be carried out by four different methods: manually (hand grouting), by gravity, pumped
and also vacuum [15], [16].
Consolidation by surface grouting (non-structural surface injections)
Figure 5. The Parthenon apparatus (b) ultrasound device combined with mechanical mixing (c) injection
grout under fully controlled pressure
collection and promotion of the grout. This equipment was designed and manufactured for grouting works by
the “Directorate of Cultural Buildings and Restoration of
Contemporary Monuments” (Δ.Σ.Ν.Α.Μ.) and a relevant
apparatus is used in experimental enema applications from the
“Directorate of Restoration Technical Research” (ΔΙ.Τ.Ε.Α.)
[24].
The success of the application depends greatly on
correct methodology. For this purpose, based on experience
gained from the grouting on the Parthenon columns’ structural
restoration, an application methodology that includes specific
instructions for the equipment, the creation of the grout and the
EXPERIMENTAL
Figure 13. Leaflet of the P60 model, with complete technical specifications of the device (umiblock.it)
Changes - Improvements
The first model of the apparatus did not generally differ in external features from the second one.
The basic alterations occurred by observations through practical difficulties and flaws of the device during
use. Thus, a second rheostatic switch with calibration and safety lock was incorporated on the electrical
section of the device for enhanced safety, due to the possibility of dangerously rising pressure by mistake on
the hand remote. The manometer gauge strapped on the users hand with Velcro just before the injection
needle has also been transferred to the remote control used by the other hand. Finally, the prior silicone tubes
that transferred the grout, exhibited extremely high elasticity, which resulted in their swelling and sometimes
blowing, during grouting and they have been replaced by polyurethane ones of the same diameter. All the
changes were made by the manufacturing company after recommendations of the conservators - partners of
the "Conservation and Restoration Centre of Byzantine Heritage” working on the monument.
Figure 14. Various accessories of the “Magic plus” device series. Notice the suction hose (up right)
and the new pressure controls with manometer gauge (lower left) (umiblock.it)
Application methodology
According to
the technical
research for the
conservation
treatments of the
monument’s wall-
paintings [31],
approved by the
“ΥΠΠΟ/ΣΥΝΤ/Φ07/
6050π.ε./6816”
decision of the
Figure 15. Application with the first (left) and second (right) versions of the device “Directorate of
Cultural Buildings
and Restoration of Contemporary Monuments”, the grout that performs better based on bibliography for
performance and composition characteristics is the “Lafarge” hydraulic lime in composition of: 100 parts
“Lafarge” hydraulic lime, 100 parts de-ionized water, 40-80 parts of fine marble powder, 5-10 parts Primal
AC 532Κ and 1 part sodium glutamate.
The problem of the sensitivity of the remote control buttons, frequently resulting in sharply rising
pressure of the injected grout, was repaired with the prior to use precise calibration of the second rheostatic
switch. Thus, the procedure is now totally safe since if the applied pressure exceeds the set limit, the
automatic safety lock slows down the flow of the grout. The manometer gauge, strapped to the same hand
controlling the injection needle for long periods of time, proved very tiresome and not practical at all, since
the needle was inserted in the architectural surface in various angles and the gauge dial could not be easily
and constantly inspected. Transferring it to the remote control that can be held on the other hand, solved
successfully both problems. Finally, the replacement of the elastic silicone tubes with small thickness, which
exhibited frequent problems of swelling and rapture upon rises of the pressure, corrected a series of problems
for the safety of application to the wall-paintings as well as the personnel itself. In general, the repair of these
in theory unpredictable flaws evolved the primary version of the device to a much safer one.
CONCLUSIONS
Grouting application with the “Magic plus” version II apparatus seems to have overcome all
traditional drawbacks of the manual grouting technique. Its application is exhibiting the particular care
needed for the adequate execution of the grouting procedure in overall, since it provides complete control
and inspection over all the parameters involved in it. As such, it can successfully address the urgent need for
detailed guidelines for grouting equipment and the injection procedure itself, on the contrary to subjective
manual application, which has not been researched for conservation applications so far. Furthermore, the
major disadvantages of low productivity, difficulty in application with lower viscosity materials, clogging of
the holes during replenishment of the syringes and small potential of consolidation depth due to low manual
pressure, all presented in bibliography, are totally resolved. It is evident that low pressure can be obtained
with the “Magic Plus” device as well. More importantly the low pressure can be ensured and at a constant
rate by the failsafe switch, which completely prevents accidents due to masonry inhibition or human fault.
The spasmodic and inconsistent rate of grouting is also resolved due to the continuous mechanical propulsion
of the consolidant. The only direct disadvantage of the “Magic plus” device is its elevated price, which is
nevertheless quickly written off due to elevated productivity, minimized personnel needs and low
maintenance costs.
It must be noted that the "Conservation and Restoration Centre of Byzantine Heritage” and its
associates in cooperation with the manufacturing company, are also testing the devices applications with
various materials (organic and inorganic), accessories and consolidants.
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[19] ibid 6.
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[30] www.brescianisrl.it - info@brescianisrl.it. BRESCIANI srl - Milano - ITALIA Tel. 02.27002121 Fax
02.2576184
[31] ibid 1.