Pore size distribution and porosity influence on Sorptivity of ceramic tiles: From experimental data to fractal modelling

The Sorptivity is a coefficient very important to characterize porous materials. It is associated to principal properties such as mechanical durability, thermal and electrical conductivity, etc. In this work, the Sorptivity coefficient of several systems of porous ceramics has been measured following the experimental procedure. In different situations, this very simple test could be not performed; in cultural heritage or during an optimised industrial process. Major reasons for this inability include that it would demand great quantitates of materials impossible to withdraw from the protected building, as well as the experimental test can last for several days, which reduces the possibility to correct/improve the industrial production process. In this regards, being very useful to have analytical formulas in order to calculate Sorptivity coefficient, an Intermingled Fractal Units model has been proposed. Starting from its capability to reproduce entirely the pore size distributions of porous materials, IFU is used to simulate water absorption process and to estimate the Sorptivity coefficient. The obtained results are in good agreement with experimental data and others two models predictions. This fact allows considering IFU model as a future tool for design materials and to predict their service life.