Multi-instrumental characterization of porous media: the role of the Spilling Drop Test

Spilling Drop Test (SDT) is a non-destructive method able to characterize water absorption and diffusion on the surface of building materials through the visualization by passive thermography of the spread of a water drop. This method was used in this research to study the surface characteristics as roughness and open porosity of geo-materials considering different methods of statistical treatment of the wet spreading area. The information acquired by SDT was compared with two standardized methods: the saturation test and the capillary absorption test. In order to test the proposed methods a set of ancient roman plaster and modern mocks-up where analysed.