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For thousands of years, mortar-based materials — including bedding mortars, plaster floors, internal wall plasters, external wall renders and stuccos, and concrete — have been key construction materials in many cultures throughout the world. This paper gives an overview and examples of the use and development of mortar-based materials in cultures across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Mesoamerica, prior to the development of hydraulic cements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of lime mortar to connect the masonry wall elements of historical architectural structures, to overlap and protect these structures, is an ancient technique that has prevailed until today as a compatible solution based on the principles of restoration. In recent years, scientists have studied the modification of lime mortars with new, sustainable and environmentally friendly materials that respect the value of monuments and are aligned with the principles of restoration. In the present study, the existing international literature on advanced lime mortars with improved mechanical and physicochemical properties is presented, and the knowledge gap is identified. Finally, new materials for improving lime mortars are proposed as a basis for successful restoration and further protection of architectural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study on the mechanical behavior of masonry specimens made from two brick types, factory-made and hand-made bricks, and three types of lime mortars, quicklime lumps, powdered hydrated lime, and commercial hydrated lime. The characteristics of the bricks and mortars and the interaction between each brick and mortar type were expected to have a significant effect on masonry strength. The results indicated that the compressive strength and specific surface area of the factory-made bricks were 15% greater and 22% lower, respectively, than those of hand-made bricks. Specifically, the factory-made bricks have a beneficial effect on specimens under compression, while hand-made bricks improve the specimen's shear strength. In addition, the commercial hydrated lime-based mortar exhibited the best bonding quality for both types of bricks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annual of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists Studies on the Arab World Antiquities is the property of General Union of Arab Archaeologists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The mosaic coving at the Grade II* listed Freemasons’ Hall in London is an example of a mosaic on an Art Deco steel-framed building. Microstructural and chemical characterisation of loose mortars and tesserae were undertaken to inform conservation efforts and advise whether a protective coating was needed to prevent further fading of gold gilding. Rigorous testing used optical imaging, scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis with differential scanning calorimetry. Laboratory evidence demonstrated the glass tesserae were created using traditional techniques. The glass tesserae were soda-lime-silica glass with lead. The gold glass tessera was produced in the ancient Roman style which included a glass cartellina layer, so further protective coating was not needed. Historical records confirmed sheets of mosaic tesserae were prefabricated in Italy. The grout and thin-set mortar were the same low hydraulicity mortar mix, which enabled mosaic tesserae positions to be adjusted as required. The bedding coat mortar was a hydraulic cement mortar that was applied on top of an early example of foamed mortar from 1932. This unique study analyses a traditional style mosaic that was installed during a pivotal point in construction history where foamed mortars and steel framed buildings were introduced. It demonstrates how archival research and laboratory testing of small-sized samples enhance the building’s significance and architectural interest by improving the knowledge of its history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a modified lime mortar as a binder for the stabilization/solidification of mine tailings presents a promising and sustainable solution for immobilizing potentially toxic elements found in these waste materials compared to cement mortars. The effectiveness of this modified lime mortar in avoiding the mobility of toxic elements, namely lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), in mine tailings has been thus studied. Encapsulating matrices of 1:1 and 2:1 tailings waste/air lime ratios were prepared. Due to the content of potentially pozzolanic compounds in the mine tailings, mainly some silicate phases, 1:1 matrices showed better mechanical strength than 2:1 samples, ascribed to a more intense pozzolanic reaction. SEM observations identified needle-shaped C-S-H structures. The hardened materials showed good endurance against freeze–thaw cycles. The semi-dynamic tank test demonstrated the effective encapsulation of the toxic components due to the use of lime mortars, yielding values of released Pb and As below the detection limit in all instances. Considering the cost-effectiveness, widespread availability, and ease of use, the use of modified lime mortar for the treatment of mine tailings can be recommended to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Constituent materials and technical procedures used in the execution of fresco wall paintings vary according to the historical period, the geographical location and accessibility of materials. • The execution of fresco wall paintings not always followed what was stated in historical treatises and art manuals. • Unusual mineral pigments, different from those mentioned or found in the traditional pictorial palette, is recurrent in wall paintings. • Traditionally known unstable pigments (e.g., copper o lead based) in alkaline environments, like those created by a fresco wall painting technique, have been widely identified. • The assignation of the fresco technique in numerous studies is generally not well supported. These studies are seen as incomplete due to the lack of specific chemical analyses that can detect possible organic compounds that would indicate a secco or a combined fresco-secco painting technique. Fresco wall paintings are one of the oldest artforms in our cultural heritage, dating back to the second millennium BC. In this work, we carry out a thorough review on the evolution of the fresco wall painting technique from Antiquity to the present day. Focused on the Mediterranean area, the aim is to gather in-depth information on different technological aspects of this decorative artform such as execution procedure, materials used and pictorial palette. Considering that the recognition of the pictorial technique (a fresco, a secco, or a mezzo fresco) is often difficult since the identification of organic binders can be a challenging issue, the assignment of well-known non-alkaline-resistant pigments to the fresco technique might not always be precise. With this in mind, this review aims to highlight the contradictions found between the bibliographical sources on the fresco technique and recent scientific studies in relation to the preparation of materials, the execution on the wall and the incompatibility of certain pigments with the alkaline environment created by this pictorial technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical lime mortars provide valuable information on the construction phases of buildings and allow reconstruction of the chronology of the historical structures. The City Wall of Burgos and the Mudejar Arch of San Martin were declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and have been protected since 1949. Several restorations at the end of the 20th century altered the original appearance of the wall and the current gate, making it difficult to establish stratigraphic relationships between the two structures. Given the scarcity of information on the construction phases of the wall and the uncertainty of the historical dates, a mineralogical and chemical characterization of the mortars was carried out, and the suitability of the binder for radiocarbon dating was assessed. The petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses of the lime mortars from the Arc of San Matin show distinctive characteristics, suggesting different construction periods and production processes, where the selection of raw materials and production methods was conducted according to the construction requirements. Moreover, the presence of contaminant phases and microparticles of charcoal in the binder fraction led to discard all the samples for mortar radiocarbon dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the Franciscan community is reflected in the San Francisco church in Quito, which was built between 1535 and 1755. This architectural work belonging to the Franciscan complex was implanted on a plot of land with an area of 3.5 hectares and was one of the first buildings in the Audience of Quito. Eleven mortar samples that covered the walls of the central nave and side chapels were taken from the church’s main temple. The procedure proposed by the authors is based on a combined methodology following the standards and protocols for the less-invasive extraction of heritage samples. Tests included X-ray diffraction, petrography, and scanning electron microscopy with a microanalysis of the samples. Mortars with a rustic composition and rough manufacturing were identified to differentiate two types of mortar, one of earthen with volcanic aggregates and another of lime with volcanic aggregates. The mining data validated the existing historical documentation, the imaginary process, and the stages of the established constructions.

The utilization of lime mortar to connect the masonry wall elements of historical architectural structures, to overlap and protect these structures, is an ancient technique that has prevailed until today as a compatible solution based on the principles of restoration. In recent years, scientists have studied the modification of lime mortars with new, sustainable and environmentally friendly materials that respect the value of monuments and are aligned with the principles of restoration. In the present study, the existing international literature on advanced lime mortars with improved mechanical and physicochemical properties is presented, and the knowledge gap is identified. Finally, new materials for improving lime mortars are proposed as a basis for successful restoration and further protection of architectural heritage.

In the field of historical buildings, the wide use of lime as a binder in various contexts of application emerges from a series of artistic and archaeological evidence in the Apulia (Italy) from the 4th century BCE to the 15th century CE. The large availability of carbonate rocks in the geological substratum from Daunian Subappennines to Salento areas strongly influenced the material culture of the region. In this paper, significant study cases were presented to bring to light the technological complexity, almost completely cancelled by the widespread presence of industrial products, in the use of lime over the centuries. Through examples of use from antiquity to the modern age in Apulia (Egnatia, Lamapopoli, Tertiveri, Siponto, Lucera and Monopoli sites), technological solutions indicating an ecological dimension of production were discussed, bearing witness to technologies on a human scale and sustainability. The comparison of petrographical (POM, SEM-EDS) and mineralogical (XRPD) results indicated the technological trend and custom for lime production in the Apulian region that starts from the choice of the stone to be calcined and the aggregates and passes through the modalities of lime hydration and preparation of the mixture up to the laying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the Franciscan community is reflected in the San Francisco church in Quito, which was built between 1535 and 1755. This architectural work belonging to the Franciscan complex was implanted on a plot of land with an area of 3.5 hectares and was one of the first buildings in the Audience of Quito. Eleven mortar samples that covered the walls of the central nave and side chapels were taken from the church's main temple. The procedure proposed by the authors is based on a combined methodology following the standards and protocols for the less-invasive extraction of heritage samples. Tests included X-ray diffraction, petrography, and scanning electron microscopy with a microanalysis of the samples. Mortars with a rustic composition and rough manufacturing were identified to differentiate two types of mortar, one of earthen with volcanic aggregates and another of lime with volcanic aggregates. The mining data validated the existing historical documentation, the imaginary process, and the stages of the established constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the response of unreinforced masonry (URM) members made of hydraulic lime mortar and fired clay bricks, commonly found in heritage structures, strengthened with textile reinforced mortar (TRM) overlays. The investigation includes URM and TRM-strengthened diagonal compression tests on square panels, and relatively large-scale wall specimens subjected to combined gravity and lateral cyclic loads. Complementary compression, tension, and interface material tests are also carried out. The diagonal panel tests show that the TRM effectiveness depends in a non-proportional manner on the overlays, render thickness, and substrate strength. The enhancement in stiffness, strength, and ultimate shear strain, using one to four mesh layers on each side, is shown to vary in the range of 49–132%, 102–536%, and 300–556% respectively. It is shown that strut crushing typically governs the response of such low-strength URM masonry elements confined by TRM overlays. The cyclic tests on the comparatively larger walls show that the TRM is effective, shifting the response from URM diagonal tension to rocking, and enhancing the stiffness, strength, and ultimate drift capacity by more than 160%, 30%, and 130%, respectively. It is shown that analytical assessment methods for predicting the response of TRM-strengthened and URM members in terms of stiffness, strength and load-deformation can be reliably adapted. The cumulative contribution of the URM and TRM components, in conjunction with a suitable fibre textile strain, is also found to offer an improved prediction of the shear strength compared to codified procedures. The findings enable the evaluation and improvement of analytical models for determining the main inelastic response parameters of TRM-strengthened masonry and provide information for validating future detailed nonlinear numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This work presents the results of a multidisciplinary study on the characterization of the composition of certain joint mortars from the ancient city of Hippo (Algeria), one of the most important North African cities in antiquity. Twenty mortar samples were analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their main physical properties, like solid and dry density and porosity, have been measured by geotechnical procedures. The typological observation by OM showed the existence of four types of sand used as aggregates that ranged from fine to coarse and were mixed with a white to russet natural lime binder. These mortars consisted mainly of mixtures of calcite and rock fragments, and sometimes pieces of red tile. It was recognized that the origins of the natural granules were sands produced by marine erosion of the Edough Mountains. The analysis by XRPD and TGA indicates that the mortars consisted of a mixture of lime/aggregates of low to medium hydraulicity. The analysis of the main chemical components by XRF allowed for the confirmation of the dating of certain monuments and suggested a new dating for other monuments.

Lime mortars have played an important role in constructing ancient Chinese masonry structures, including city walls, buildings, and tombs. A tomb built with lime mortars and stones belonging a Ming high‐ranking official, Xu Jie, was discovered in Huzhou City of China. Eight different samples from Xu Jie's tomb, representing four types of lime‐mortar‐based materials: joint mortar between stone bricks, bedding mortar, grouting mortar, and plaster mortars were collected for analysis and comparison. The characterization of the construction materials has therefore become of primary importance. The function of each mortar was reported and studies into the micro‐textural features and mineralogical compositions of those mortars were performed via a multi‐analytical approach. The joint mortars were all found to be aerial lime mortars with predominately lime. The bedding mortar was found to consist of lime, soil and sand, typical of a tabia mortar. The grouting mortar was found to consist of lime and ground contact metamorphosed limestone. Analysis of plaster sample taken from the roof of the main tomb identified the presence of calcium stearate/palmitate, indicating the usage of plant‐based tung oil as an additive. The analytical results will promote our understanding of Ming architectural technology and craftsmanship, and provide critical information for the conservation of Xu Jie's tomb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A series of semi-quantitative analytical procedures are proposed for the characterization of organic additives in ancient lime mortars and can be a preliminary screening method for further lab analysis. • The use of a microplate spectrophotometer reduced the detection limit by two orders of magnitude and decreased the sample consumption to 0.2 g for the detection of seven organic substances. • Twelve samples of ancient mortar from the Forbidden City in Beijing were analysed using the test procedure. To improve the performance of lime mortar, ancient craftsmen often added various additives to mortars, including inorganic and organic materials. The analysis of mortar additives plays an important role in the conservation and restoration of historical buildings. However, it is quite difficult to accurately identify the species of additives. This paper proposed a series of semi-quantitative analytical procedures to identify the organic additives in ancient lime mortars. By using reagents such as phenolphthalein, periodic acid, acetylacetone, anthrone, bicinchoninic acid (BCA), iodine-potassium iodide, chloramine T, etc., organic additives such as triglyceride, soluble sugar, starch, and protein (including blood, gelatine, and other unknown proteins) remaining in ancient lime mortar were accurately detected, respectively. The linear relationship of the standard curve was significant, and the detection limits for the target additives were below 7 µg/mL. The process is easy to operate within 6 h, and it is suitable for rapid in-situ testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results of a multidisciplinary study on the characterization of the composition of certain joint mortars from the ancient city of Hippo (Algeria), one of the most important North African cities in antiquity. Twenty mortar samples were analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their main physical properties, like solid and dry density and porosity, have been measured by geotechnical procedures. The typological observation by OM showed the existence of four types of sand used as aggregates that ranged from fine to coarse and were mixed with a white to russet natural lime binder. These mortars consisted mainly of mixtures of calcite and rock fragments, and sometimes pieces of red tile. It was recognized that the origins of the natural granules were sands produced by marine erosion of the Edough Mountains. The analysis by XRPD and TGA indicates that the mortars consisted of a mixture of lime/aggregates of low to medium hydraulicity. The analysis of the main chemical components by XRF allowed for the confirmation of the dating of certain monuments and suggested a new dating for other monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The religious art of the Dominican order is reflected in Santo Domingo Church, which was built between 1541 and 1688. This work of heritage architecture, one of the first to be built in the colonized city, was affected by multiple earthquakes, interventions, and constructions that have not been clearly recorded. A total of 13 samples were taken from the mortar inside the cloister, central nave, and side chapel, following the minor destruction-testing protocols and standards suggested by the research team. The analysis included mineral characterization studies and quantitative analysis by X-ray diffraction, petrographic, and scanning electron microscopy with microanalysis of the samples. The results showed the presence of volcanic aggregates and lime mortars, mortars of rustic composition and coarse manufacture. The results of mineralogical data and texture have allowed us to corroborate the historical information described by the chroniclers, to date relatively studied sites and to establish a hypothesis of constructive stages.

Abstract The addition of protein-based additives (e.g. milk, egg white, animal blood) into lime mortars can improve mortar properties such as workability, strengths and durability. With the intent to understand how and why proteinaceous additives improve lime mortar properties, it could be useful to start from the basic building blocks of proteins amino acids. Consequently, the present study focuses on the influence of polar amino acids on the carbonation of lime mortars, and the results demonstrated that addition of amino acids into mortars could slow down mortar drying, increase surface hardness, slow down carbonation, promote amorphous calcium carbonate stabilization and inhibit calcite formation; moreover, these effects seemed to become more evident with the increase of amino acid concentration. It was speculated that in highly alkaline lime mortars, polar amino acids could lime carbonation by interacting with calcium carbonate via H-bonds and additional Ca2+ mediated adsorption.

The research focuses on pozzolanic additives, which are compatible with traditional lime mortars, and enable the modification of the rheological, physical and mechanical properties of tested composites. It was noted that lime mortars with fluidised bed fly ash require sand without impurities to avoid possible ettringite crystallisation. The work presents siliceous fly ash and fluidised bed combustion fly ash to modify the frost resistance and mechanical properties of traditional lime mortars with and without the addition of cement. The results show better effects using fluidised bed ash. Traditional Portland cement CEM I 42.5R was used to activate ash and increase the results. The possibility of a significant improvement of properties is indicated with a hybrid addition to the lime binder of 15–30% ash (siliceous or fluidised bed ash) and 15–30% cement. Changing the class and type of cement provides an additional opportunity to alter the properties of the composites. For architectural reasons relating to colour, the suitability of lighter fluidised bed ash instead of darker siliceous ash and of white Portland cement instead of the traditional grey cement can be used. The proposed mortars can be the basis for future modifications with admixtures and additives, e.g., metakaolin, polymers, fibres, slag, glass powder and impregnating agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fly Ash Comprehensive Utilization is the property of Hebei Fly Ash Comprehensive Utilization Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Metakaolin (MK) has emerged as a highly promising supplementary material in low carbon binders for the construction industry. In wide range of applications, from lime to cement–based materials, its hardening performance relies on the pozzolanic reactivity between MK and calcium hydroxide (CH), resulting in the formation of diverse calcium-aluminate/silicate hydrates. The reaction sequence is affected by specific conditions dictated by the binder system employed in various applications. To advance the design of binders that reduce the carbon emissions, a systematical review on MK-based reactions is crucial. This review encompasses a broad range of MK/CH ratios and examines the effect of alkali hydroxides, carbonates and sulfates. The focus is on the formation and stability of pozzolanic hydrate phases over time and under different curing temperatures. Additionally, the review addresses the characteristics that directly affect MK reactivity, such as the (calcined) clay structure and the dissolution of the reactants. The systematic findings shed light on the hydrate phase assemblage, enabling a better understanding of the reaction mechanisms in complex systems, like MK cementitious blends. The results of this review serve as a valuable foundation for the development of novel “low-carbon” binder designs and compositions for both cementitious and lime-based binders.

Historical lime mortars provide valuable information on the construction phases of buildings and allow reconstruction of the chronology of the historical structures. The City Wall of Burgos and the Mudejar Arch of San Martin were declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and have been protected since 1949. Several restorations at the end of the 20th century altered the original appearance of the wall and the current gate, making it difficult to establish stratigraphic relationships between the two structures. Given the scarcity of information on the construction phases of the wall and the uncertainty of the historical dates, a mineralogical and chemical characterization of the mortars was carried out, and the suitability of the binder for radiocarbon dating was assessed. The petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses of the lime mortars from the Arc of San Matin show distinctive characteristics, suggesting different construction periods and production processes, where the selection of raw materials and production methods was conducted according to the construction requirements. Moreover, the presence of contaminant phases and microparticles of charcoal in the binder fraction led to discard all the samples for mortar radiocarbon dating.

In the field of historical buildings, the wide use of lime as a binder in various contexts of application emerges from a series of artistic and archaeological evidence in the Apulia (Italy) from the 4th century BCE to the 15th century CE. The large availability of carbonate rocks in the geological substratum from Daunian Subappennines to Salento areas strongly influenced the material culture of the region. In this paper, significant study cases were presented to bring to light the technological complexity, almost completely cancelled by the widespread presence of industrial products, in the use of lime over the centuries. Through examples of use from antiquity to the modern age in Apulia (Egnatia, Lamapopoli, Tertiveri, Siponto, Lucera and Monopoli sites), technological solutions indicating an ecological dimension of production were discussed, bearing witness to technologies on a human scale and sustainability. The comparison of petrographical (POM, SEM-EDS) and mineralogical (XRPD) results indicated the technological trend and custom for lime production in the Apulian region that starts from the choice of the stone to be calcined and the aggregates and passes through the modalities of lime hydration and preparation of the mixture up to the laying.

Little is known about the applications and use of hydrated lime currently produced in Ecuador. The present research focuses itsstudy on 6 samples of hydrated lime marketed locally. Their performance was deter-mined based on the national standard NTE INEN 488 in masonry mortars. These initial tests made it possible to identify the lime with which the mortar with the highest compressive strength is obtained. We worked on a mortar design that incorporates this lime and reaches the resistance established by the NTE INEN 2518 standard. A mortar of 3.5 MPa at 28 days was cata-loged in the standard as a type O mortar for use in non-load-bearing masonry and plastering. These results are expected to contribute to the knowledge of Ecuadorian lime and facilitate its incorporation in the construction of local buildings.

The investigation evaluates the influence of unmodified chitosan on the carbonation behavior of aerial lime mortars, determining the main properties in hardened state. The work was developed experimentally, starting from lime pastes elaborated according to European Standards. Initially, different contents of chitosan were dissolved in the mixing water, keeping constant the quantity of aerial lime and water, according to the consistency standardized by the type of lime. The samples cured for 4 days in an oven at 30 °C, were subjected to a carbonation process. The carbonation conditions established for the lime samples, with and without chitosan, were in all cases the same. It was observed that the chitosan content positively influences the kinetic reactions of lime with CO2, modifying its mineralogical, macro and microstructural properties and improving its mechanical behavior.

The research provides an innovative contribution to the interpretation of three-point and four-point bending tests on mortars by employing a bi-modulus material model, which assumes an asymmetric constitutive law, i.e., different elastic moduli in tension and in compression. To this aim, Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko bi-modulus beam models are defined, and the related displacement fields are reported for three-point loading, and provided for the first time for the four-point bending layout. A wide experimental campaign, including uni-axial tensile and compressive tests, three-point and four-point bending tests, and on notched specimens three-point tests for mode-I fracture energy, has been carried out on lime mortar specimens exploiting traditional contact (CE-DT) and contactless (DIC) measurement systems. Experimental results provided the values of tensile and compressive mechanical characteristics, which are employed to validate estimations of the analytical model. The tension-to-compression moduli ratio experimentally observed is on average 0.52. Experimental outcomes of the DIC analysis proved the bi-modulus behaviour during the four-point bending tests showing visible shifting of the neutral axis. The bi-modulus analytical model provides closer results to the experimental ones for the slender specimens subjected to four-point bending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary building material despite the significance of cement in construction industry is the lime mortars because of its usage as a structural repair material around the ancient heritage structures. Though the significance of lime mortars lies in the fact of compatibility towards the existing ancient lime-based structures, the method of construction and material preparations are still undisclosed. In such a case, it is necessary for the researchers to analyze scientifically, the influences of various additives towards the performance of lime mortars. This paper tries to attempt two natural additives viz., gallnut (Terminalia chebula) and palm jaggery (Saccharam officinarum) as modifiers of mixing water in the preparation of class B hydraulic lime-based mortars through the process of fermentation. Based upon the trials, 39 mixes were considered with varying water to lime ratios and dosages of additives. Experimental tests such as workability, compressive strength, water absorption, acid resistance and NaCl cyclic tests were conducted along with SEM and XRD microstructural assessments. The maximum compressive strength achieved was about 4.3 MPa which is 200% that of conventional lime mortars. Jaggery and gallnut-based additives were efficient in various durability studies however the performance of jaggery is superior to gallnut in various aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The religious art of the Dominican order is reflected in Santo Domingo Church, which was built between 1541 and 1688. This work of heritage architecture, one of the first to be built in the colonized city, was affected by multiple earthquakes, interventions, and constructions that have not been clearly recorded. A total of 13 samples were taken from the mortar inside the cloister, central nave, and side chapel, following the minor destruction-testing protocols and standards suggested by the research team. The analysis included mineral characterization studies and quantitative analysis by X-ray diffraction, petrographic, and scanning electron microscopy with microanalysis of the samples. The results showed the presence of volcanic aggregates and lime mortars, mortars of rustic composition and coarse manufacture. The results of mineralogical data and texture have allowed us to corroborate the historical information described by the chroniclers, to date relatively studied sites and to establish a hypothesis of constructive stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the lime mortar pavement with marble inlays that sole the north, south and west porticoed galleries of the peristyle from the Demetrio de los Ríos House at Italica. This pavement is of great interest because of its own configuration and the marble materials it contains, because of its rarity as it is included in the wide catalog of "opera sectilia" and traditional mosaics from the second century Italica, previously much more luxurious, and because of its own chronology, framed from the last third of the second century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of protein-based additives (e.g. milk, egg white, animal blood) into lime mortars can improve mortar properties such as workability, strengths and durability. With the intent to understand how and why proteinaceous additives improve lime mortar properties, it could be useful to start from the basic building blocks of proteins amino acids. Consequently, the present study focuses on the influence of polar amino acids on the carbonation of lime mortars, and the results demonstrated that addition of amino acids into mortars could slow down mortar drying, increase surface hardness, slow down carbonation, promote amorphous calcium carbonate stabilization and inhibit calcite formation; moreover, these effects seemed to become more evident with the increase of amino acid concentration. It was speculated that in highly alkaline lime mortars, polar amino acids could lime carbonation by interacting with calcium carbonate via H-bonds and additional Ca2+ mediated adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]