Addition of cement to lime-based mortars: Effect on pore structure and vapor transport

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.10.041· OSTI ID:20871573

Mosquera, M J ^[1]; Silva, B ^[2]; Prieto, B ^[2]; Ruiz-Herrera, E ^[1]

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1. Departamento de Quimica-Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real (Spain)
2. Departamento de Edafologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

The main focus of this work is to determine the effect of cement addition, a common practice in many restorations, on the pore structure of lime-based mortars. A second target is to establish correlations between microstructure and water vapor transport across the mortar, which is a key characteristic of building decay. In order to achieve these objectives, we prepared a set of mortars consisting of air-hardening lime with a progressively increasing cement content, as well as a mortar containing hydraulic lime. Several different techniques, most notably mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy in the backscatter mode, were used to investigate the pore structure. The results from these procedures led to the conclusion that porosity and pore size are progressively reduced as cement content increases. Moreover, an excellent correlation between pore radius parameter and the vapor diffusion coefficient was established. Hydraulic lime mortar exhibited textural parameters and diffusivity values halfway between those of the different lime/cement mixes studied.

• OSTI ID: 20871573
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Journal Name: Cement and Concrete Research Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 36; ISSN 0008-8846; ISSN CCNRAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CEMENTS
DECAY
DIFFUSION
HARDENING
MERCURY
MORTARS
PORE STRUCTURE
POROSITY
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
WATER VAPOR