Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Pore-related properties of natural hydraulic lime mortars: an experimental study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Materials and Structures Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Restoration of historic buildings is often executed using lime mortars. A restoration mortar is considered compatible with the original building materials when it answers to certain criteria, such as the facilitation of moisture transport. This can be determined by studying porosity, permeability, and the pore size distribution of both materials. Since NHL mortars are used in restoration of the exterior, where water and moisture are ever-present, a good characterization in terms of their pore-related properties is necessary. This study therefore researched characteristics of pure NHL mortars, without metakaolin or pozzolan additives. In this study, 16 different mortar recipes were made with NHL 5, the most hydraulic NHL type. The mortars had variations in spread, sand type and grain size. The sand types varied from coarse-grained to very fine, in order to be able to study the influence of the largest and smallest grains. The spread was adapted from 120 to 180 mm by changing the water:binder ratio. This allows understanding the influence of binding water on these pore-related properties. The measured pore-related properties were linked to compressive strength measurements, so as to characterize these eminently hydraulic limes also on a mechanical level. Nearly 180 samples were tested after 90 days of curing. All mortars show a bimodal pore size distribution. Depending on the sand type and the mortar spread, the mechanical strength varied from 1 to 10 MPa and pore sizes varied from the larger to smaller pore region. This demonstrates the large influence aggregates and water have on the properties of the hardened mortar. In general, the influence of the variation in water:binder ratio was less apparent, although an excess of binding water was translated into a change towards smaller pores, higher porosity and lower compressive strength. This study demonstrates that NHL 5 lime can be a good binder for restoration mortars, in which the properties of the mortar can be adapted through variation of aggregate grain size and spread. This allows researching a possible estimation of properties before making the mortars.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Maravelaki-Kalaitzaki P, Bakolas A, Karatasios I, Kilikoglou V (2005) Hydraulic lime mortars for the restoration of historic masonry in Crete. Cem Concr Res 35:1577–1586. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.09.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Tunçoku SS, Caner-Saltık EN (2006) Opal-A rich additives used in ancient lime mortars. Cem Concr Res 36:1886–1893. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.06.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Schueremans L, Cizer Ö, Janssens E, Serré G, Van Balen K (2011) Characterization of repair mortars for the assessment of their compatibility in restoration projects: research and practice. Constr Build Mater 25:4338–4350. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.01.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. André M, Phalip B, Voldoire O, Roussel E, Vautier F, Morel D (2012) Quantitative assessment of post-restoration accelerated stone decay due to compatibility problems (St. Sebastian’s abbey church, Manglieu, French Massif Central). In: 12th international congress deterioration and conservation of stone, New York

  5. Mosquera MJ, Silva B, Prieto B, Ruiz-Herrera E (2006) Addition of cement to lime-based mortars: effect on pore structure and vapor transport. Cem Concr Res 36:1635–1642. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.10.041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mosquera M, Benítez D, Perry S (2002) Pore structure in mortars applied on restoration: effect on properties relevant to decay of granite buildings. Cem Concr Res 32:1883–1888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Arandigoyen M, Alvarez JI (2007) Pore structure and mechanical properties of cement–lime mortars. Cem Concr Res 37:767–775. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.02.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Pavía S, Toomey B (2007) Influence of the aggregate quality on the physical properties of natural feebly-hydraulic lime mortars. Mater Struct 41:559–569. doi:10.1617/s11527-007-9267-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Isebaert A, Van Parys L, Cnudde V (2014) Composition and compatibility requirements of mineral repair mortars for stone—a review. Constr Build Mater 59:39–50. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Rodrigues JD, Grossi A (2007) Indicators and ratings for the compatibility assessment of conservation actions. J Cult Herit 8:32–43. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2006.04.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sasse HR, Snethlage R (1997) Methods for the evaluation of stone conservation treatments.pdf. In: Baer NS, Snethlage R (eds) Dahlem workshop saving our architectural heritage: the conservation of historic stone structures. Wiley, New York, pp 223–43

  12. Torney C, Forster AM, Szadurski EM (2014) Specialist restoration mortars for stone elements: a comparison of the physical properties of two stone repair materials. Herit Sci 2:1–12. doi:10.1186/2050-7445-2-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Schueremans L, Van Balen K, Cizer O, Janssens E, Serré G, Elsen J et al (2010) Compatibility of repair mortars in restoration projects. In: 8th international mason conference, Dresden, pp 785–94

  14. Lawrence RM, Mays TJ, Rigby SP, Walker P, D’Ayala D (2007) Effects of carbonation on the pore structure of non-hydraulic lime mortars. Cem Concr Res 37:1059–1069. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.04.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Cultrone G, Sebastián E, Huertas MO (2005) Forced and natural carbonation of lime-based mortars with and without additives: mineralogical and textural changes. Cem Concr Res 35:2278–2289. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.12.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Arizzi A, Cultrone G (2012) The difference in behaviour between calcitic and dolomitic lime mortars set under dry conditions: the relationship between textural and physical–mechanical properties. Cem Concr Res 42:818–826. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2012.03.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kaufmann J, Loser R, Leemann A (2009) Analysis of cement-bonded materials by multi-cycle mercury intrusion and nitrogen sorption. J Colloid Interface Sci 336:730–737. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2009.05.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Baroghel-Bouny V (2007) Water vapour sorption experiments on hardened cementitious materials. Cem Concr Res 37:414–437. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.11.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Loosveldt H, Lafhaj Z, Skoczylas F (2002) Experimental study of gas and liquid permeability of a mortar. Cem Concr Res 32:1357–1363. doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(02)00793-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. McCarter W, Starrs G, Chrisp T (2000) Electrical conductivity, diffusion, and permeability of Portland cement-based mortars. Cem Concr Res 30:1395–1400. doi:10.1016/S0008-8846(00)00281-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sanjuan M, Muñoz-Martialay R (1996) Influence of the water/cement ratio on the air permeability of concrete. J Mater Sci 31:2829–2832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hamami AA, Turcry P, Aït-Mokhtar A (2012) Influence of mix proportions on microstructure and gas permeability of cement pastes and mortars. Cem Concr Res 42:490–498. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.11.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kalagri A, Karatasios I, Kilikoglou V (2014) The effect of aggregate size and type of binder on microstructure and mechanical properties of NHL mortars. Constr Build Mater 53:467–474. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.11.111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Cizer O, Balen K Van, Gemert D Van, Elsen J. Blended lime–cement mortars for conservation purposes: microstructure and strength development, vol 2. In: 6th international conference structural analysis historic construction preservation safety significance. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Bath, pp 965–972

  25. Pavia S, Brennan O (2013) Portland cement–lime mortars for conservation. In: 3rd historic mortars conference, vol 1, Glasgow, pp 1–10

  26. Silva BA, Ferreira Pinto AP, Gomes A (2014) Influence of natural hydraulic lime content on the properties of aerial lime-based mortars. Constr Build Mater 72:208–218. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.09.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Grilo J, Faria P, Veiga R, Santos Silva A, Silva V, Velosa A (2014) New natural hydraulic lime mortars—physical and microstructural properties in different curing conditions. Constr Build Mater 54:378–384. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.12.078

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bianco N, Calia A, Denotarpietro G, Negro P (2013) Hydraulic mortar and problems related to the suitability for restoration 1. Period Di Mineral 82:529–542. doi:10.2451/2013PM0031

    Google Scholar 

  29. Nichols G (2009) Sedimentology and stratigraphy, 2nd edn. Wiley-Blackwell, New York

    Google Scholar 

  30. Chang C-F, Chen J-W (2006) The experimental investigation of concrete carbonation depth. Cem Concr Res 36:1760–1767. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.07.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Washburn EW (1921) The dynamics of capillary flow. Phys Rev 17:273–283. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.17.273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hall C, Hoff WD (2011) Water transport in brick, stone and concrete, 2nd edn. Spon Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  33. Lanas J, Pérez Bernal JL, Bello MA, Alvarez Galindo JI (2004) Mechanical properties of natural hydraulic lime-based mortars. Cem Concr Res 34:2191–2201. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.02.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the technical support at the Civil Engineering and Structural Mechanics research group at the University of Mons as well as the technical support at Ghent University for the preparation of the mortar samples and assistance with the tests. The special research fund of Ghent University is acknowledged for the Ph.D. scholarship of W. De Boever.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Isebaert.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Isebaert, A., De Boever, W., Descamps, F. et al. Pore-related properties of natural hydraulic lime mortars: an experimental study. Mater Struct 49, 2767–2780 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0684-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0684-5

Keywords

Navigation