NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

CANADA

DTVISTON OF. BUILDING RESEARCH

A STUDY OT EÍ.F'LORTSCENCE TN

CI,AY BRICT(S
by

J. I. Davigon

Internal Report No. 313

oÍ the

Divlslon of Bullding Reeearch

OTTAWA

June f9ó5
 PRET'ACE

The appearance bf efflorescence on a brick maaonry

building is usually distressing to the designer, the ollrner and the
manufacturer of the bricks. At a minimum it constitutee an aesthetic
failure for as long ae it persiste, but ie aleo cauge for $orrre concern
that it may reflect a situation in which deterioration of the masonry may
occur. f'or theee and other reasons the Division has had a long-tirne
intereat in efflorescence problems. The present study carried out at
Halifax has been based on local materiale and has provided the opportunity
to compare laboratory and field experience and to extend knowledge oÍ
the efflor escenc e phenomenon.
The author, a chernist and a research oÍficer of the
Division at the Atlantic Regional Station in Halifax, ls engaged in
regearch on rnasonry materials with ernphasie on regional problems.

Ottawa N. B. Hutcheon
June 1965 Assistant Director
 A STUDY O.I. EFI.LOP ESCENCE IN

CLAY BRICT(S
by

J. I, Davieon

Drrring the wintet of. 1962-63. field observationr in

several locations in the Atlantic area revealed a higher than average
occurrence of efflorescence on walls oÍ clay brick masonry. The
severity of tbe efflorescence seemed rnore closely related to specific
bricka than to mortar composition, type of construction, etc, It was
suggeeted that bricks were contributing to the problem either by
providing (") source of eoluble salts, or (b) satisfactory media for
easy passage "of salte in solution from mortar and/or back-up material
through the walle. A study veas, therefore, undertaken to investigate
the efflorescing tendencles of clay bricks commonly used in masonry
congtruction in'tbe area.

GENERAL

EÍflorescence, defined as a deposit of water-eoluble

ealtg either (a) on the surface of a masonry wall, or (b) behind the
aurface, within the pores of the units of the structure, has been studied
extensively in recent yêars (lr 21 31 4). EÍflorescing salts, unsightly
on masonry walls, Írequently appear on new buildings and are a source
of chagrin and embarrassment to the o,u/ner, the architect, and the
builder. Paradoxically, although the salt deposits are aesthetically
objectionable, they are harmless and usually dieappear during \r'armr
dry weather, while salts deposited behind the face and witbin the pores
of the units of the walls, frequently ignored because they cannot be seen,
have become recognized as a potential contributor to masonry deterior -
ation (l). The build-up of salts within the wall is accompanied by increasing
pressuïe which can eventually reeult in a spalling away oÍ the face of
(a) the unit, or (b) the mortar Joint.

Among the factors that are essential ln caueing efflorescence

ar e:

Ia water,
z a eource of soluble salts,
3 a wall structure conducive to the ready passage oÍ water,
and
4. suitable weather conditione.
 -z-
No efflorescence can occur in the absence of water. It
is the water that carries the salts in solution through the masonry, and
when it evaporates, the salts remain either on the aurface or within the
masonry,

Sirnilarly, soluble salts must be present. A variety have

been identified, including alkali (Na and K) sulphates and carbonates,
alkaline earth (Ca, Mg, Al) sulphates and, in smaller arnounts, carbonates.
NaCl has been identiÍied in coastal areas where unwashed beach sands are
frequently used, and CaClZfiay occur if this material is used excessively
as an additive in the mortar. These salts are all white in colour. Vanadium
and molybdenum compounds, which aÍ€ occasionally íound in efflorescence,
producê a gÍeen colour.

The sources of these soluble salts in rnasonry may be:

l. back-up materials,
z. mortar,
3. bricks, and
4. water.
The relative contributions of back-up materials and rnortars
have been extensively studied (5,6,71, and it is generally agreed that
efflorescence Írom these sources increases with increasing alkaline
content in the materials. The presence of acids and soluble salts in rain
water entering masonrywalls has also been established {I) and should not
be discounted.

The existence of source material in bricks has been

similarly dernonstrated. A |twickrt test has been developed to assess
the tendency of bricks toward efflorescence. This is included in the
ASTM Standard Method of Sampling and Testing Bricks, C-67, In an
extensive study that included 684 bricks rnanufactured in the United
States, McBurney and Parsons (8) found that 83 percent did not
constitute a source of effloresc€nce. Correspondingly, Bonnell and
Butterworth (9) found that less than ll of 175 bricks Írorn plants in
Great Britain and Northern Ireland gave heavy or serious efflorescence.
Brownell(3)states that a ceramic product can contain about O.2% of
extremely soluble salt before efflorescence becomes apparent.
It is difficult for water to rnigrate through a wall iÍ
the wall contains dense impermeable units and has been constructed
with superior worlcmanship. Inferior workmanship, however. ffiày
result in ready paths for water to travel aloug, and even with good
workmanship, it is possible that the porosity of the units may be in
a ralge that will facilitate moisture move ment. Brownetl (3) further
statee that a cerarnic body with zero per cent absorption cannot produce
efflorescence, and there is probably sorne practical lirnit between z.ero
and six per cent at which efflorescence will not occur.
 -3 -
Weathcr conditions alsb play an important part in the
eÍflorescence phenomenon. They determine, in Íact, whether
efflorescence will occur on the eurface or within the unit. During
the late winter months, the combination oÍ relatively low ternperatures
and high humidities produces a slow rate of evaporation. Throughout
thie period, any water in a etructure reaches the surface before evaporati.on,
leaving the unattractive saltg on the wall. This is a geason of poor drying
weather when the incidênce oÍ unsightly eÍflorescence is at its peak. Upon
the advent of warm, dry surnmer weather, however, the water may change
to vapour before reaching the surface oÍ the rnasonry, and the salts are
deposited within the wall, hidden, and generally uneuspected. Ae previously
mentioned, the danger in this case is that salts will accumulate in large
enough amounts to create pressures sufficient to spall the surface from
mortar or masonry units.
EXPERIMENTAL
The method ueed in this investigation was essentially that
Íollowed by Ritchie in which he studied efflorescence on ceÍarnic wicks
embedded in cylinders of masonry mortars of different compoaition,
which were alternately wetted and dried after the rnortar had hardened. (5).

As the purpose of our study wae to ascertain the influence

of the bricks in the eÍflorescence process, the wick was the variable instead
of the mortar. Wicks werre cut frorn the various units and embedded in
sylinders of a l:3 portland cement:sand rnorta!.
The wicks were approximately 3 in. long by là in. wide
and 3/16 in. thick. There were I diÍferent wicke cut from ? bricke and a
sandstone. Throughout this paper, the use of the general term trbrlcksrl
will encompass all sarnples, including the gandstone. The ? bricks
repÍesented 6 varietieg. Wicks were cut from one brick at two distinct
levels of initial rate of absorption.
As noted previously, the mortar contained one part
portland cernent to three parts sand by volume. A pit sand was used
along with distilled water. The rnortar was rnixed in a Hobart N-50
mixer for 5 min, final ÍIow being adjusted to Íall between tl0 and 125
per cent.
Two- by four-in. cylinder molda ïvere used, with a
wooden plug inserted in the lower paf,t of the mold so that the reeulting
mortar cylinder was 2| in. high.
 -4-
The mortarwas placed in the mold irnmediately after
mixing was complelc-'d and a wick, previouely wetted in distilled water
to irnprove its contact, wae inserted to a depth of I in. A deep scratch
had been rnade on the wicks I in. from the end, and served as a guide in
inserting them to the proper depth in the mortar. Later, the scratch was
useÍul in facilitating eeparation of wick and mortar by breaking. The wick-
mortar assemblage was rernoved from the mold after 24}:.r and stored in
controlled laboratory air (?0" Ï' and 50 per cent R. H. ) for ? days before
starting the wetting-drÉng cycles.
For wetting and drying, samples \Á/ere placed in small
jars (capacity about 7 oz. ) and dietilled water was added to bring the
level juet below the top surface of the mortar. lvÍetal coversf in which
glots were cut to permit the wicke to protrude, were placed on the jars,
Evaporation oÍ water through the gap between the wick and edges oÍ the
slot was reduced byplacing thin glass plates on the cover against the
wick. To start the cycling, sarnplee \pere immersed in water, ae
deecribed, for a'? -}lrr period. Then they were rernoved from the water
and allowed to dry in laboratory air Íor 7 hr. They'were then replaced
in the jars, using the original water, which was replenished in order to
bring the level to its original height. After 17 hr 1n the water, the drying
procedure was repeated. Ïhus, ín 24 hr, eamplee were wetted for l? hr
and dried íor 7.

During the wetting periodr water rnigrated through the

mortar and into the wick, ultimately evaporating frorn the wick surÍaces.
During its migration, the water picked up soluble salts from the mortar
ar.d/ot the wick, and these ealts urere left behind when the water evaporated,
either on the surface or within the wicli
After completing I0 wetting-drying cycles, the samples were
stored for ? days in controlled laboratory air. Assessrnents by visual
observation were rnade, and the sarnples photographed. Wicks were then
carefully broken av/ay from the rnortar cylinder (along the scratch line),
dried in an oven for 48 hr at 100" C, cooled and weighed. Then they
were extracted with distilled water. Each wick was placed in 50 ml of
distilled water and allowed to soak f.or 24h.r. The water was then drained
Írom the wiclc and replaced with another 50 ml. An hour later the procedure
\ ras Íepeated, and this continued until the wiclc had been washed in 250 ml
oÍ water. The wash water was later evaporated, and the salts recovered
urere weighed and retained for analysis.
 -5-
After the washing treatrnent, wicke were dried for 48 hr
at l00o C, cooled and weighed. The di.fference in weight, beÍore and aÍter
washing, represented the weight of soluble salt deposited in the wick.
Blank runs had previously been conducted on wicks from all of the bricks,
and soluble salt totals, recovered from wicks inserted in rnortar, were
corrected accordingly. As the wicks waried slightly in size, final results
were e)cpressed as a percentage oÍ their dry weight. All sample preparation,
wetting-drying cycling, etc., was conducted in controlled laboratory air
(70" 3' and 50 per cent R.H.).
BLANK TESTS ON MATERIAJ-S
All the bricks were subjected to the effloreacence test
outlined in ASTM Q67-ir|, in which the specimens are set on end in
disti[ed water, irnrnersed to a depth oÍ I in., and left for ? days. They
were then dried and cornpared visually with duplicate control specimene.
I'ive of the ? bricks tested were free of efflorescer:'ce. Heavy efflorescence
occurred on one of the bricks (No. 5) and there was a rninor occurrence
on brick No. ?, where a trace of salt appeated on the top front corners
of one sample. Results for these two bricks are 6hown in Figure I,
Blank runs were also conducted to deterrnine the soluble
salt content of the wicks. The procedure followed in washing them with
distilled water was outlined previously. The arnount of salts recovered
is shown in Table I, Seven of the eight wicks contained 0.08 per cent
or less, while wicks Írom brick No. 5, whi,ch exhibited severe efflorescence
in the test above, contained 0.26 per cent,
A chemical analysis of the salt recovered from this brick
ie included in Table IV. and it indicates that the major constituent is
magnesiurn sulpha.te.

Chernical analyses were also carried out on the mortar

constituents. Results for portland cernent and a water e><tract of the sand
are shown in Tab1e I1. It will be noted that only negligible amounts of
salts are present in the sand.
SELECTION OF MORTAR MIX
In a prelirninary study, wicks from brick No. I were set
in rnortars of various compositions, including a range of cement-lime
combinations and two masonry cernents.
 -6
Results were sirnilar tb tho6e of Ritchie in establishing
greatest efÍlorescence with rnortars having highest portland cement
contents (5).

A 1:3 portland cernent:sand mortar was, therefore,

selected as the mortar in which wicks were to be ernbedded.

RESULTS OF TESTS ON WICI(S EMBEDDED IN MORTAR

A. Visual
Visual observations and photographs (Figures Z to 4)
of wicks frorn the various bricks ernbedded in rnortar cylinders indicated
Íairly beavy deposits on sorrre, while others were comparatively free of
salts. The most pronounced efÍloreacence was observed on wicks Nos, 3
and ó, with wick No. 8 close behind. A cornparison of visual results
proved difÍicult. Specirnens were not all seen at the sarne tirne, but were
evaluated at intervals of several days. It should also be noted that redt
brown, bufÍ, andgrey wicks were used. Thus, 4 different colour back-
grounds added another cornplication to a difficult problern. Photographs
oÍ wicks Nos. I and 5, on which visible efflorescence was negligible, are
not shown.
B Quantitative

The amounts of ealts extracted frorn the wicks are

recorded in Table III, The first column indicates total salts recovered,
and the second, the corrected amounts (value for total salts less the
amounts originally present in the wicks - Table I), Largest amounta of
salts 1?,,58 per cent) were recovered frorn wicks Nos. Z and 5, wít}a2.37
and Z. Z7 pet cent being recovered Írom wicks Nos. ? and 8. Lees than
I per cent was recovered frorn each of the remaining 4 wicks.
The corrected totals indicate a higher Íigure for wick
No. 2 than for wick No. 5. The significance of the corrected totals may
not be great. Possibly L};re 2.58 per cent may rePresent the capacity of
the wicks to hold salts. Any additional salt could have been trlostrt from
the exterior of the wick, either by mechanical action in inserting and
removing the wick from the slotted cover on the jars, or simply by a
ttflaking offtt of the salt from the surface.

Quantitative results thus definitely establish the higher

efÍlorescence potential of wicks Nos. 2, 5, 7, and B.
ANALYSI5 OT SALTS
Salts Íecovered from wicks Nos. 2, 5, and B, frorn which
the largest arnounts were obtained, and from wick No. 6, which rated
t!severef in the visual asse6srnent, 'à,rere analyzed to deterrnine the rnajor
constituents, and results are shown in Table IV. Àlso included in this
table is an analysis of salt obtained from brick No, 5 during the blank
test on it.
Results indicate that salts obtained from wicks Nos. Z,
6, and 8, contain primarily potassiurn carbonate, with a small amount
oÍ sulphate. The rnain constituents of No. 5 are potassiurn and sulphate,
with smaller arnounts oÍ calcium and carbonate. It is also interesting
to note that rnagnesium sulphate, the major constituent oÍ salts originally
in brick No. 5, becomes potassium sulphate in the wick, after it has been
in contact with the mortar.
DI,SCUSSION

Results of visual assessment of efflorescence on wicks

urêre inconclusive and did not agree with quantitatÍve results obtained
when soluble salts were e)<tracted Írorn the wicks. The latter results
were in good agreement with field observations urhere the 3 bricks, Írom
which the wicks containing greatest arnounts of soluble salts \ffere obtained,
are identified with the rnost severe efflorescence problems. Examples Írom
the field involving 2 oÍ.t};e 3 bricks are shown in Figure 5.
Ghemical analyses of salts from wicks and brick, coupled
with the severe efflorescence occurring during the blank test on the brick,
establish the eource rnaterial for wick No. 5 as magnesium sulphate
located in the brick. It is interesting to note that salis recoveted in the
blank test were O.Zb per cent of the weight of the wick. This substantiates
Brownellls assertion that efflorescerrce is likely to occur when the ceramic
product contains in excess of Q.Z per cent of extremely soluble salts (3).
The source material for the soluble salts recovered from
the remaining wicks is assumed to have originated in the mortsr. No
appreciable arnounts of salts v/ere recovered from blank tests on the
wicks, while the preaence of alkaline salts was indicated by a chemical
analysis on the portland cement used in the rnortar (Table II). The same
rnortar combination was used for all specirnens, however, and diÍferences
in the results, both visual and quantitative, obtained with the various wicks,
must reflect differences in their properties.
 -8 -
Initial rates of absorption for the bricksr and absorption
properties of wicks cut from the bricks and used in the study, having
previously been determined, are listed in Table V. A cornparison was
made between the quantitative results and these properties, and is shown
graphically in Figure ó.
There is no concrete evidence oÍ a direct relationohip
between IRA of the bricks and the amounts of salts Íecovered from the
wicks, although there is a trend indicating larger arnounts of salts as
IRA values increaser This trend is contradicted by results for brick
No. Z, with an IRA of 13 gm/ZO sq in. /rnir. from which 2.58 Per cent
soluble salts \À/as recovered, while bricks Nos- 7 and 8, with much
higher and quite different IRA values, had lower salt contents, Again,
brick No. 3, with an IRA value close to the value for brick No. 2, had
a much lower salt content.
A cornparison of 24-hr irnmersion and 5-hr boiling
absorption values with salts recovered, suggests a more definite
relationship. The results in Figure 6 indicate a distinct difference
between the high salt content wicks and the low ones. These limited
results are in accord with the second oÍ Brownellls conclusions
mentioned previously - that a ceramic body with zero per cent
absorption cannot produce efflorescence, and there is probably some
practical limit between zero and six per cent at which eíflorescence
will not occur (3).
There is also a general relationship between soluble
salt contents and apparent porosity with larger salt concentrations
occurring in wicks with greatest porosities. As in the case of the IRA
cOmparison, there are some confliccing results to this trend. Wicks
with 1?. 2 per cent porosity had soluble salt contents rnore in line with
9,4per cent porosity wicks tha.n with those at the Z?.0 pet cent level.
Thus, there is a general indication of increasing salt
content with increasing absorption values for the wicks used in the
etudy, but limited, and some conflicting results, make definite
conclusions difficult.

Consideration was also given to the effect of the nature

of the structure on the efflorescence process. Clearly, a brick
containing a large percentage oÍ pof es running through thc unit would
be more susceptible to efflorescence than a unit containing a large
percentage of closed or rrdead-êndrr pores. Similarly, it is reasonable
to assume that there must be a certain range oÍ pore sizes that will
facilitate maximurn rnoisture migration and thus promote eÍflorescence,
 -9-
Records of pore -síze distributions for 6 of the I bricks
included in the study, obtained with a rïrercury porosirneter, are recorded
in Table VI and shown graphically in Figure 7. These results are Íor
samples representative of the types of bricks used in the study, but are
not actually results for the particular specirnens used. In some instances
there is a considerable difference between the porosity values in Table VI
and the values listed for the corresponding wicks in Table V. For the
purpose of this discussion, however, the values in Table VI will be
considered representative for the different wicks used in the study.

Pore sizes in bricks Nos. 1 and 4are small; over 80 per

cent of those in brick No. I were under I U and 75 per cent of those in
brick No. 4 were under 2.5V. Twenty-five per cent oÍ the pores in brick
No. 3 were between l and 10U, with the remainder being fairly evenly
divided between under I trrand over 10 9..

The remaining 3 bricks had a large percentage oí pores

in the I to 10 psize range. Almost 70 per cent of the pores in brick
No. Z were between I and 10 U. Most of the remainder were under 1 pr.
Relatively, the sarïre distribution occurred in brick No. 6. Brick No. I
had over ó0 per cent of its pores in the I to I0 Urange, with the rernainder
divided between under 1 gand over 10 pr. It differed from bricks Nos. Z
and 6 in having a greater percentage oÍ pore6 over 10 Uin síze. No data
are available for brick No. 5, nor for brick No. 7, although the latter
is considered essentially the same for this purpose as brick No. 8.
Thus, two of the bricks with histories of rather severe
efflorescence in the Íield, and which yielded large soluble salt contents
during wick tests despite low salt concentrations established during blank
tests, have por€ sizes predominantll" in the I to I0 ptrange. Three of the
four remaining bricks for which pore-size data are available, had
distributions predorninantly below 1 pand over 10 pr. The fourth brick,
No. 6, had a pore-size distribution sirnilar to that in the two units with
an efflorescence history, but it is not associated with serious efflorescence
in the field, nor were large arnounte of soluble salts recovered from its
wicks. Brick No. 6 was the sandstone; the others were fired clay bricks.
Perhaps its different behaviour rnay result from differences in pore shapes
and structure, rather than size.

This brief study using pore-size distributions oÍ

representative sarnples of units used in the ercperirnental work suggests
an interesting area for future investigations of the efflorescênce
phenomenon.
 - r0 -
The remaining point for discussion concerns the conflicting
evidence of visual :rnd quantitative results for wicks Nos, 3 and 6, from
which comparatively small amounts of salts were recovered despite
pronounced deposits observed visually. It is suggested that this was the
result of different surface te><tures for these wicks; that salt deposits were
left when water moved up the surface of the wick by capillary attraction,
and then evaporated. Smoother texture of the other wicks did not
facilitate surface capillarity, and salts recovered from thern were
introduced as water paesed through the pores of the wicks and evaporated.
COMPÀRIS ON O'F SULPHATE AND CARBONATE EÏ^Í'LORESCENCE

f ield observations have indicated a more aevere and

somewhat differ ent -eppearirrg efflor scence on mas onry containing brick
e
No. 5, than on masonry coutaining bricks Nos. Z or 8. The forrner has
the appearance of a loose, fluffy powder and occurs in larger amounts
than the latter, which appears as a fine, clinging powder. Although
chemical analysis was not done on salts observed in the field, a vigual
comparison was rnade with laboratory efflorescence created by immersing
bricks in solutions of equal etrength oÍ potassi.um eulphate and potaseium
carbonate. Three eamples of brick No. ? wer€ irnmersed end-wise to a
depth oÍ I in. in a 5 per cent solution of potassium sulphate. An equal
number of eamples were immersed in a similar manner in a 5 per cent
golution of potaesium carbonate, and left fot ? days. A heavy efflorescence
appeared on the bricke irnmersed in the potaeeium sulphate aolution ehortly
after the start of the test, but only a minor showing occurred on the bricks
in the potassium carbonate solution. At the end of the ? days, the bricks
were removed frorn the solutions and allowed to dry. Drying resulted in
a much more pronounced showing on both bricks. This is clearly ehown
in Figure B, wtrere a heavier depoeit with a different appeaf,ance occurs
on the bricks that were immersed in the sulphate.

Significantly, the effloreacence noted in the top photograph

of Figure I is quite sirnilar to that seen in the top photograph of I'igure 5,
while there is a corresponding similarity between the bottom pictures in
Figurea 5 and 8.
coNcLusroNs
l. Blank efflorescence tests on bricks frorn which wicks were
cut were negative in all but one instarrce. Heavy efflorescence occurred
on brick No. 5. Chemical analysis revealed the major constituent oÍ the
efÍlorescent salt to be magnesium sulphate.
 - ll -
Z. Blank tests on wicks iádicated less than 0. I per cent
soluble salt contents Íor all but No. 5, which contained 0. 26 per cent.
The latter wicks were cut Írorn the brick referred to in the previous
paragraph.

3. Teets on wicks cut frorn different brlcks and embedded in

1:3 portland cement:sand mortar were unsuceessful in reproducing
efflorescence similar to that observed in the field.
4. Soluble salt totals, obtained by washing wicks at the
conclusion of the efflorescerrce tcsts, revealed highest concentrations
in 4 wiclcs cut írom bricks found to be particularly susceptible to
efflorescence in the field.
5. Chemical analyses of salts recovered from wicks
embedded in mortar indicated potassium carbonate to be the main
conetituent in all but wick No. 5, where potassiurn sulphate predominated.

6, Soluble salts occurring in wick No. 5 originated with salts

originally found in the brick itself, while for all other specimens, the
source material appears to have been alkali salts in the portland cement
used in the rnortar.

7. A comparison of the absorption properties of the wicks

and their soluble salt contents indicates a general relationship with
increasing salt coÍrtents as absorption values rose.
8. Exarnination oÍ pore-size distributions for tySrical
specimens of 6 of the I bricks included in the study revealed pore
sizeg in the I to l0 ptrange for wicks having largest soluble salt contente,
while wicks with lower salt contents had pores in the range of under I g
a,nd over lO p. An exception was the sandstone, which had low salt
concentration and a pore-size distribution in the I to l0 Urange. An
interesting area for future efflorescence studies is indicated.
ACI(NOWLEDGEMENTS

The author wiehes to thank his colleaguer T. Ritchie,

of the Ínorganic Materials Section, who carried out the determinations
of pore-size distribution. He is also indebted to the Division of
Applied Chemistry and especially to G. R,. Duval, A. Mykytiuk,
and E. C. Goodhue, who conducted the chernical analyees.
 -IZ-
REFERENCES

I Anderegg, F, O. Efflorescence. ASTM Bulletin No. L95,

October 1952.

2. Butterworth, B. Efflorescence and Staining of Brickwork. The

Brick Bulletin, VoI. 3, No. 5, 1961,
3. Brownell, lff. E. Fundamental Factora Influencing SÍflorescence
of. CIay Products. Journal of the American
Ceramic Society, Vol. 32, No. lZ, L949.

Ritchie' r' "'"0""ï::ït"Jo"o",ïï:rï:ff::ï:ïË.::ïffi

:' ll,",r,
VoI. 38, No. 10, 1955.
5, Ritchie. T, Study of Efflorescence Produced on Cerarnic lficks by
Masonry Mortarg. Journal of the Arnerican
Ceramic Society, Vol. 38, No. 10, 1955.

6. Rogers, P. L. A Method of Test Íor Potential Efflorescence oí

Masonry Mortar. ASTM Bulletin, January L959.

7 Young, James E. Backup Materials as a Source of Efflorescence.

Journal oÍ the American Cerarnic Society, Vol. 40,
No. 7, July 1957.

8. McBurney, J. W. and D. E" Parsona- The lMick Test for Efflorescence

oÍ Building Brick. ASTM Proceedings, Vol. 37,
1937' p. 332.

9. Bonne1l. D. G.R. and B. Butterworth" Clay Building Bricks of the

United Kingdorn. HM Stationery Office, 1950.
 TABLE I
RESULTS OF BLANK TESTS ON WICKS

Salts Recovered,
Wick from Brick No, 7o wt. of wick

1 0.02
z 0.08
3 0. 0l
4 0.05
5 0.26
6 0.06
7 0.03
I 0.09

TABLE II

CHEMTCAL ANALYSTS OF MORTAR MATERIAI*s

Wash Water of
Portland the Sand (Parts
Gement oÍo per Million)
tol 2.54 5

Ga 43.70 5

Mg 0. gg 5

cr tlrd.* 5

coz 0.83 5

Na 0. z8 5

K 0.39 5

* n. d. = none detected
 TABLE III
SALTS RECOVERED Ï'ROM WICI(-S AFTER EF'FLORESCENCB TEST
Salts Recovered, To wt. of wick
Wick No. Total Corrected*

I 0.24 0. zz
2 2.58 z.5z
3 o.94 0.93
4 0.90 0. 8ó
5 2.58 z.3l
6 0. 78 0. ?1

7 ?,. 27 z.24
8 2.37 2,.29

TABLE IV
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOLUBLE SALTS
OBTAINED F'ROM WICKS AND EFI.LORESCENT
SALT RTMOVED FROM BRICK NO. 5
Salt from Salt Írom
lVick Number: (21 {s) (6) (8) Brick No. 5
Na 0.79 0. g0 1. I0 r.09 I.02
K 37. r4 23. r0 18.39 26. 08 0.70
Ca z. 10 5. 0B 2.35 1.64 I. 05
Mg 0 0 0 0. 3g 9. s0
so 4 4.40 56.93 4.92 2.77 39.77
CI 0 0 0 0 0
cor 40.68 r. 36 35.32 39"96 l. 06
Ins ol. r.29 0.81 1.64 r. 16 7.lz
 TABI"E V

ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF WICKS

$rick IRAI. 24-b: Submereion 5-hr Boiling

No. em/la eq in. /min Abgorption, % Absorption. 7o Porositv. 9o

I 3,"9 3.7 4.2 9.8

2 13. 0 9.4 11.2 22,3
3 I l,0 3.3 4. I 9.4
4 5.9 5.0 6.6 15.0
) 41.5 8.0 9.0 19. 3
6 5. I 19 ?.5 11. z
7 29,o 9.3 11. z zz.2
I ?0.8 9.4 12. I 24.g

* IRA valuee for bricks from which wicks were cut.

 TABLE VI
PORE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION Ot. SIX BRICKS
(Pore Size, %l

Brick Total
No. <0.5 $ 0.5tol.0u 1.0 to 2.5 tt 2.5 to 5.0 u 5 to l0 u >lo g Porogity. %

t 3.96 10.44 I, l8 o.24 4..24 0.62 Ió. ?

z 2.37 3.4+ 7. 58 6.92 2.19 l,42 z3.g
3 1.83 1.77 0.88 0.54 0.82 3,46 9.3
4 l. ?5 1.94 1. ?9 0. 33 0.40 0, 95 7.2
6 2.05 0.95 l. ?0 2.45 3.45 0..35 lI. I
I o. ?4 l. ?5 3.81 3.00 3i 58 3.32 16. z

,l
Figure I Efflorescence test on bricks Nos. 5 and ?.
TOP - Brick No. 5. Hearry effloreecence on odd-
numbe re d spe c irnen s c ompared with e ven - nurnbe red
.

controle.
BOTTOM - Brick No. 7. Note grnall ealt depoaits
on upper front corners of specirnen No. 5.
 .., 1:.,.,:

Figure 2 Efflorescence on wicks ernbedded in rnortar,

TOP - l,fick No. 2. There is some deposit near
top of wicks. Wicks are buff colout making
effloreecence lesg obvious.
BOTTOM - 'litlick No. 3.
 ,." : ,:

Figure 3 Effloreecence on wicks embedded in rnortar.

TOP - tl/ick No. 4.
BOTTOM - IÀ/'ick No. 6.
Figure 4 Efflorescence on wicks embedded in mortar.
TOP - '$Íick No. ?.
BOTTOI\{ - lr/'ick No. 8.
 -,ëQsf;

Figure 5 F"teld observations of effl.orescence of rnasonry

buildings containing:
TOP - Brick No. 5,
BOTTOM - Brick No. Z,
 Èe

T o . Wick no. 5
:
tlr 25 o
o
É, o o
c> n a
CL o
15 o
z,
lrl l0 o o
É,
o- 5
a-

z, 9
oo
o F
o o
23ó
ltt- .
8

=iË
3-t-
o'É ó
Ét/lo
:t@ 5 sO
qrt {rF.
Àr 4
o
=70
=ffi
750
740 a

E30 o
(em
=
<10 o o
oo
= 0t23
SALTS RECOVERED, T OF TVEIGHT OF TYICK

FIGURE 6

COIJIPARI 5ON OF S ALTS RECOVERED AN D

PROPERTIES 0F WICKS a3rr77.,
 %

Brick no. I l0 Briclr no. 2

Por, - 16.l% Po r. - 23. 9%
8
6

Brick no. 3 l0 Brick no. 4

Por. - 9.3% Por. - 7.2%
8
6

Brick no. ó l0 B rick no. 8

Por. - 11.ltr 8 Por. - 16.2%
6

4
2

.*rl"f; I'f.; I 'f.; l',i.;l lo,ï l'*; l'E; lu,f.;l ,"

| '," I l.o.u
' I

PoRE StZE, //
FIGURE 7
DISTRIBUTION OF PORE SIZES IN BRICKS
ae tr7f.2
Figure I Comparison of sulphate and carbonate after Brick No. 9
was irrunerged on end to a depth of I in.
TOP - 5 per cent solution of KZSO4.
BOTTOM - 5 per cent eolution of I{ZCA3.