Lime-pozzolana mortars in Roman catacombs: composition, structures and restoration
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), C/ Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid (Spain)
- Universidad de Alicante, Departamento de Ciencias Tierra and Medio Ambiente, E-03080 Alicante (Spain)
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Canarias, Avda, Astrofisico Francisco Sanchez 3, E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain)
Analyses of microsamples collected from Roman catacombs and samples of lime-pozzolana mortars hardened in the laboratory display higher contents in carbonated binder than other subaerial Roman monuments. The measured environmental data inside the Saint Callistus and Domitilla catacombs show a constant temperature of 15-17 deg C, a high CO{sub 2} content (1700 to 3500 ppm) and a relative humidity close to 100%. These conditions and particularly the high CO{sub 2} concentration speed-up the lime calcitization roughly by 500% and reduce the cationic diffusion to form hydrous calcium aluminosilicates. The structure of Roman catacomb mortars shows (i) coarser aggregates and thicker beds on the inside, (ii) thin, smoothed, light and fine-grained external surfaces with low content of aggregates and (iii) paintings and frescoes on the outside. The observed high porosity of the mortars can be attributed to cracking after drying linked with the high binder content. Hardened lime lumps inside the binder denote low water/mortar ratios for slaking. The aggregate tephra pyroclasts rich in aluminosilicate phases with accessorial amounts of Ba, Sr, Rb, Cu and Pb were analysed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and also by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) to identify the size and distribution of porosity. Results support procedures using local materials, special mortars and classic techniques for restoration purposes in hypogeal backgrounds.
- OSTI ID:
- 20706227
- Journal Information:
- Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 35, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.08.009; PII: S0008-8846(04)00382-5; Copyright (c) 2004 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0008-8846
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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