Evaluation of femtosecond laser texturing on carbonate heritage stones

Abstract

[Abstract]: The effect of femtosecond laser texturing on Carrara marble, Montesclaros marble, and Redueña dolostone was evaluated. Mineralogical characterisation, laser structuring of thin sections and hand samples of the three heritage stones were carried out. The topography of the textured surfaces was obtained by means of interferometric microscopy, and a petrographic study of laser-generated craters in thin sections was performed to elucidate the effect of the crystalline structure of calcite on the morphology of the laser-generated structures. The differences observed in thin sections allowed to understand the differences observed in laser-structured bulk samples of the three heritage stones; which is key aspect when designing conservative strategies based on laser texturing.