Evaluating the Impact of Organic Addition and Aggregate Gradation on Air Lime Mortar: New Compatible Green Material for Heritage Application

This research aims to study the influence of organic additive and aggregate grain size in lime mortar hardening for producing compatible, high-performance and eco-friendly materials for conservation and restoration of heritage structures. Mortar mix with lime to sand ratio of 1:3 by mass and water to binder ratio of 0.75 was considered. Ficus Carica (Moraceae), commonly known as Fig fruit, was used as an organic additive in the mortar mix at 2, 4 and 6% in volume. River sand grounded for 5, 10 and 15 minutes, turning in changes in grain-size distrubution, was used in the mortar mix. Investigations on mortars were performed after 90 curing days; physical and mechanical properties were evaluated, along with mineralogical changes due to organic addition; the influence of organic and aggregate grading in carbonation rate was also assessed. Results indicate that the aggregate with retention value 45 +/- 3% in grades between 2 mm to 425 micron and 425 micron to 75 micron; and the addition of organic additive at 4% in volume represents the optimum mix able to assure significant enhansement in carbonation rate and mechanical resistance. Polysaccharides in organic played the central role in the mineralogical transformation responsible for the measured enhanced performances.

Automated summary

This research studied the influence of organic additive and aggregate grain size on the hardening of lime mortar. The results showed that using Fig fruit as an organic additive at a volume percentage of 4% and using a specific gradation of aggregate can significantly enhance the carbonation rate and mechanical resistance of the mortar.