Innovative water-reduced injection grouts for the stabilisation of wall paintings in the Hadi Rani Mahal, Nagaur, India : design, testing and implementation

Abstract

The design and evaluation of site-specific injection grouts for the stabilisation of delaminated wall paintings is often challenging to perform in situ, due to constraints such as time, availability of materials and reliable testing procedures. In this research, a rigorous design and testing methodology, including the development of a new adhesion test, was adopted on-site for the development of injection grouts to be used in water-sensitive situations. Water-reduced mixtures were obtained by partly substituting water with ethanol. Previous research by the authors had demonstrated in the laboratory the potential suitability of water–ethanol grouts. In the present paper, water-reduced grouts were designed, tested and applied on-site for the first time.