Sorel's cement mortars: Decay susceptibility and effect on Pentelic marbleSorel's cement mortars: Decay susceptibility and effect on Pentelic marble Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-11-011999enTo evaluate the decay susceptibility of mortars of magnesium oxychloride cement used for the restoration of blocks of Pentelic marble of the Athens Acropolis monuments, mineralogical and physicochemical analyses were performed on samples from different exposure conditions. The decay of mortars depends mainly on environmental influences. The observed decay forms and the responsible processes are: (1) expansion of mortars leading to break-up of the marble as a result of the carbonation of oxychloride phases; (2) disintegration of mortars exposed to washing and staining of marble due to the release of magnesium chloride; and (3) in mortars sheltered from rain action, efflorescence due to the sulfation of mortar constituents that yields hydrated sulfate salts of magnesium and calcium with different water molecules; their hydration, crystallization, and rehydration during microclimatic shifts imply volume changes and the release of corrosive solutions leading to formation of cracks and staining.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Cement and Concrete Research12291929–1935 Maravelaki Pagona Μαραβελακη Παγωνα Moraitou, Georgianna Elsevier Monuments--Preservation monuments conservation and restoration monuments preservation