Lightweight Vapor-Permeable Plasters for Building Repair Detailed Experimental Analysis of the Functional Properties

Three types of lightweight plasters for building repair were prepared and tested. The composition of plasters was designed in respect to their compatibility with materials used in the past in historical masonry. For the hardened plasters, detailed testing of microstructural and macrostructural parameters was realized together with the broad experimental campaign focused on the assessment of mechanical, hygric, and thermal properties. As the researched plasters should find use in salt-laden masonry, specific attention was paid to the testing of their durability against salt crystallization. The mechanical resistance, porosity, water vapor transmission properties, and water transport parameters of all the researched plasters safely met criteria of WTA directive 2-9-04/D and standard EN 998-1 imposed on repair mortars. Moreover, the tested materials were ranked as lightweight plasters and due to their low thermal conductivity they can be used for the improvement of thermal performance of repaired masonry. The salt crystallization test caused little or no damage of the plasters, which was due to their high porosity that provided free space for salt crystallization. The developed plasters can be recommended for application in repair of damp and salt masonry and due to their compatible composition also in historical, culture heritage buildings. The added value of plasters is also their good thermal insulation performance.     

Comparative Study of Effects of Air-Entraining Plasticizing Admixture and Lime on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Masonry Mortars and Plasters

This article presents research on selected physical and mechanical properties of cement-based plasters and masonry mortars with consistency-improving additives, namely, traditional hydrated lime and a plasticizing and aerating mixture (APA), which, in practice, is often considered to be a lime substitute. Comparative analysis of the properties of mortars with alternative additives—lime or APA—was carried out, taking into consideration possible effects of cement, as two types of Portland cement were used for the research. For fresh mortar, mixture consistency, air content, resistance to segregation, and water retention were determined. Tests on hardened mortars included tests of porosity and impermeability, depth of penetration of water under pressure, drying shrinkage, as well as compressive and bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and adhesion of mortars to the base. In addition, research has shown that cement–lime mortars and cement mortars with APA admixture of similar consistency in the fresh state are characterized by significantly different properties. The results show, in most of the features analyzed, more favorable properties of mortars with the use of traditional lime. For shrinkage only, the use of admixture turned out to be more advantageous.     

A Review of the Use of Titanium for Reinforcement of Masonry Structures

Titanium has exceptional durability, very high specific strength, a thermal expansion coefficient similar to construction materials, low weight density, and its cost has drastically decreased over the last decades. One of the main requirements in conservation engineering is the durability of the retrofit materials and the reversibility of interventions, and a possible interesting solution is the use of titanium alloys coupled with inorganic matrices made of low-cement or lime mortars. Titanium has recently been used to reinforce important masonry and archeological monuments, but little is known about this. Its use is increasing in conservation engineering without adequate knowledge of its characteristics, grades, and properties. This paper summarizes the main features of titanium alloys, its recent applications, and discusses its drawbacks and advantages compared to other retrofit materials and methods. It is demonstrated that titanium alloys can be effectively used in many applications to reinforce masonry structures while complying with requirements in terms of durability, compatibility, and reversibility. Given its mechanical properties, its use in the repair and reinforcement of masonry structures could be particularly interesting in seismically prone areas.     

The Influence of Incinerated Sewage Sludge as an Aggregate on the Selected Properties of Cement Mortars

In line with the trend of using waste raw materials in the technology of building materials, experimental studies of cement mortars containing various amounts of fine-grained waste aggregate were carried out. The waste aggregate was based on an incinerated municipal sewage sludge which was mechanically crushed to an appropriate grading. Chemical and physical properties of the waste aggregate are presented. Mortars with varying amounts of waste aggregate as a replacement for natural sand were prepared. Study determines compressive strength and flexural strength up to 56 days. Properties such as capillary action, air content and thermal conductivity were determined. The results of the tests has shown that the incinerated waste sludge can be used as a partial or total replacement for natural aggregate. In mortars with waste aggregate, a favorable relation between flexural and compressive strengths was observed, which translates into increased strength of the interfacial transition zone. A significant increase in water absorption was observed for mortars containing high amounts of waste aggregate, which is directly related to its porous structure. Conducted studied prove that the aggregate obtained from incineration of the municipal sewage sludge can a feasible alternative for natural aggregates in production of masonry and rendering mortars for construction purposes.     

Effect of Fibrillated Cellulose on Lime Pastes and Mortars

The use of nanocellulose in traditional lime-based mortars is a promising solution for green buildings in the frame of limiting the CO₂ emissions resulting from Portland Cement production. The influence of the fibrillated cellulose (FC) on lime pastes and lime-based mortars was studied incorporating FC at dosages of 0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3 wt% by weight of binder. The lime pastes were subjected to thermal and nitrogen gas sorption analyses to understand if FC affects the formation of hydraulic compounds and the mesoporosities volume and distribution. The setting and early hydration of the mortars were studied with isothermal calorimetry. The mechanical performances were investigated with compressive and three-point-bending tests. Furthermore, fragments resulting from the mechanical tests were microscopically studied to understand the reinforcement mechanism of the fibres. It was found that 0.3 wt% of FC enhances the flexural and compressive strengths respectively by 57% and 44% while the crack propagation after the material failure is not affected.     

Mortars for Conservation of Late 19th and Early 20th Century Buildings—Combination of Natural Cements with Air Lime

With the availability of commercial Natural cements (NC) for the conservation purposes raises a fundamental question about the compatibility between historic and repair mortars. The properties of Natural cements are dependent on the geological location of the raw material extraction and also on the production parameters, both having an impact on the final properties of the mortars produced from each distinct. Therefore, the significance of preservation of 19th and 20th century heritage and selection of the proper binder compatible with the original materials necessitate the study of existing NCs, that nowadays are produced by several manufacturers. This work provides a complex study of the mortars prepared from three NCs available in the market: Groupe Prompt Vicat, France (NCPV); Cemento Collet Marfil (NCM) and Cemento Natural Tigre (NCT), both from Spain. Various mortar sets based on individual NC containing different binder/aggregate ratios and air lime additions were analyzed after 28, 60, and 90 days of curing with the focus on their mineralogical composition (XRD), morphology (SEM), mechanical (flexural and compressive strength), and physical properties such as water absorption by capillarity, water vapor permeability, and water vapor diffusion resistance. Mortars prepared from NCPV, NCM, and NCT show distinct physical-mechanical properties with varying binder/aggregate ratio and air lime addition. This study shows that the NC variability should be taken into consideration when selecting materials for the conservation and rehabilitation of historic renders and plasters. Based on the comparison with original NC mortars, several NC mortars developed in this study show adequate properties for conservation of the buildings from late 19th and early 20th century in terms of compressive strength (>12 MPa), water absorption by capillarity (<20 kg·m⁻²·h^−0.5), water vapor permeability (<4 × 10⁻¹⁰ kg·s⁻¹·m⁻¹·Pa⁻¹), and water vapor diffusion resistance (<28) values.     

The Influence of Hydrated Lime and Cellulose Ether Admixture on Water Retention,Rheology and Application Properties of Cement Plastering Mortars

In this article, the effect of hydrated lime and cellulose ether on the water retention, rheology, and application properties of plasters was studied. For mortars, the consistency, bulk density, and water retention were tested. Rheological measurements of pastes included yield stress and plastic viscosity. In addition to standard tests of mortars and examining the rheological properties of the pastes, a proprietary method for testing the application properties was proposed. The obtained research results made it possible to evaluate the performance of the tested plasters. An attempt was also made to correlate the rheological properties of pastes (plastic viscosity) to the water retention value. The influence of hydrated lime and cellulose ether on selected properties of pastes and plasters was also presented using the statistical Box–Behnken method. The subjective rating of an expert plasterer confirmed the necessity of the modification of plastering mortars with hydrated lime and cellulose ether. As shown, modification of cement plastering mortar with hydrated lime and cellulose ether at the same time allows obtaining a material with favorable technical and technological properties, especially mortars applied by machine.     

Lightweight Concretes with Improved Water and Water Vapor Transport for Remediation of Damp Induced Buildings

Most of the historical and old building stock in Europe are constructed from masonry, when brick, stones, or their combination are bound with traditional mortars. Rising damp, due to accompanying effects, is the main factor influencing the quality of indoor climate as well as having an important impact on the durability of masonry structures. In this study, new types of lightweight concrete with waste aggregate content as a suitable material for remediation of damp damaged masonries were designed and tested. Alternative aggregate served as silica sand substitution in the range of 0–100 vol.%. Basic structural properties, mechanical resistance, water, and water vapor transport properties were measured after 28 days of water curing and were compared with dense reference concrete and with traditional masonry materials as well. Moreover, the porous structure of produced concretes and changes caused by usage of alternative aggregate usage were evaluated with the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) technique. Obtained experimental data showed the suitability of modified concretes with 25–50 vol.% of waste aggregate content to ensure acceptable strength and hydric properties, and these properties were found to be comparable with masonry structures and materials used in the past.     

Physical and Mechanical Performance of Coir Fiber-Reinforced Rendering Mortars

Coir fiber is a by-product waste generated in large scale. Considering that most of these wastes do not have a proper disposal, several applications to coir fibers in engineering have been investigated in order to provide a suitable use, since coir fibers have interesting properties, namely high tensile strength, high elongation at break, low modulus of elasticity, and high abrasion resistance. Currently, coir fiber is widely used in concrete, roofing, boards and panels. Nonetheless, only a few studies are focused on the incorporation of coir fibers in rendering mortars. This work investigates the feasibility to incorporate coir fibers in rendering mortars with two different binders. A cement CEM II/B-L 32.5 N was used at 1:4 volumetric cement to aggregate ratio. Cement and air-lime CL80-S were used at a volumetric ratio of 1:1:6, with coir fibers were produced with 1.5 cm and 3.0 cm long fibers and added at 10% and 20% by total mortar volume. Physical and mechanical properties of the coir fiber-reinforced mortars were discussed. The addition of coir fibers reduced the workability of the mortars, requiring more water that affected the hardened properties of the mortars. The modulus of elasticity and the compressive strength of the mortars with coir fibers decreased with increase in fiber volume fraction and length. Coir fiber’s incorporation improved the flexural strength and the fracture toughness of the mortars. The results emphasize that the cement-air-lime based mortars presented a better post-peak behavior than that of the cementitious mortars. These results indicate that the use of coir fibers in rendering mortars presents a potential technical and sustainable feasibility for reinforcement of cement and cement-air-lime mortars.     

Physical Properties of Eco-Sustainable Form-Stable Phase Change Materials Included in Mortars Suitable for Buildings Located in Different Continental Regions

Starting from two low-cost, low-environmental-impact polymers belonging to the Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) family, i.e., PEG 800 and PEG 1000, two form-stable phase change materials were produced. The two PEGs differ in molecular weight and, as a consequence, the melting and crystallization range of temperatures. The PCMs were obtained, including the PEG, in a liquid state, inside the pores of Lecce Stone flakes, obtained as waste pieces from its processing. A simple and inexpensive impregnation process was selected to produce the PCMs, thus adopting low-environmental-impact materials and cheap processes, and respecting circular economy principles. The two PCMs, the first composed of PEG 800, namely LS/PEG800, and the second composed of a 50/50%wt. mix of the different LS/PEGs, i.e., LS/PEG800_LS/PEG1000, were added as aggregates to four types of mortars, based on aerial and hydraulic lime, gypsum, and cement. The obtained mortars were characterized in their fresh state to assess their workability, and in a solid state after a proper cure to determine their characteristic Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) properties and mechanical properties in both flexural and compressive modes, taking the mortars not containing any PCM as the reference. The results revealed that, with the proper selection of mortar formulations, it was possible to achieve suitable workability and adequate mechanical characteristics. The selection of a PEG with a low range of phase change temperatures, such as PEG 800, allows one to obtain mortars characterized by a melting/crystallization range that can be considered appropriate in applications characterized by cold climates. The production of a mixed PCM, composed of both PEGs, led to mortars displaying a large interval of melting/crystallization temperatures, which could be suitable in both warm and cold climates.     

Use of Natural Zeolite and Glass Powder Mixture as Partial Replacement of Portland Cement: The Effect on Hydration,Properties and Porosity

The study investigates effect of the additive consisting of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and soda lime glass powder on the hydration, mechanical properties and porosity of Portland cement concrete. The effect of mineral additive on the technological, physical-mechanical properties and porosity of the mortar was investigated by increasing the content of natural zeolite and glass powder added to the mortar up to 20% by weight of cement in increments of 5% and different particles size of natural zeolite. The mixes with the best technological and mechanical properties were identified and further studies were conducted by replacing 10% and 15% of cement with natural zeolite and soda lime glass with an average grain size of 59.3 μm, 29.0 μm or 3.6 μm of zeolite, and 29.6 μm of glass powder. The hydration process and microstructure of hardened cement paste modified with the aforementioned mineral additives was analysed by microcalorimetry, X-ray diffraction tests and thermogravimetric analysis. The optimal composition of cement paste and particle size distribution of natural zeolite were determined to achieve the higher flexural and compressive strength and lower open porosity. The mixture of mineral additives has the highest effect in terms of flexural and compressive strength and open porosity when added at the proportion 75:15:10 (cement:natural zeolite:soda lime glass) and when zeolite with an average particle size of about 3.6 μm is used     

The Influence of Lime Solution in Kneading Water Substitution on Cement Roughcast and Mortar Coating

The understanding of the mechanical fixation behavior of coatings is crucial for a better comprehension of the bonding systems, especially at the interface between the mortar and the substrate. Physical adherence is related, among other things, to the contents of the materials used in the roughcast and mortar coatings, due to the colloidal water penetration into the pores of the substrate. This work evaluated the influence of different lime solution additions replacing the kneading water in the preparation of roughcast and mortar coatings. Two types of substrates were investigated:ceramic bricks and concrete blocks. Three wall masonry panels were constructed, with dimensions of 220 × 180 cm², one of concrete block and two of ceramic bricks, followed by the application of roughcast and mortar coating with an average thickness of 5 mm and 20 mm, respectively. Direct tensile bond strength tests were performed and the results, with a 95% confidence level, showed that substrate ceramic and treatment in the roughcast exhibited a better behavior regarding the distribution of the tensile bond strength of the tested specimens. However, no significant differences of the amount of addition used (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) on the tensile bond strength were observed.     

Performance of Sustainable Mortars Made with Filler from Different Construction By-Products

One way to contribute to sustainability in the construction sector is through the incorporation of construction by-products from their own activities. This work intends to extend the possibilities for enhancement of these by-products through the incorporation of four different ones, as fillers, in mortar production. The influence of these incorporations in mortar production was compared with a reference mortar with siliceous filler in its fresh state; workability, entrained air content and fresh density, and in its hardened state; capillary water absorption, water vapour permeability and shrinkage (up to 91 days); and adhesive, compressive, and flexural strength; the last two were studied over time (up to 180 days). Despite the reduction in compressive strength, both in the short and long term, there was a gain in adhesive strength when the construction by-products were incorporated. Regarding the physical properties and durability studied, no relevant differences were found with respect to the reference mortar. According to the European Specifications, these mortars could be used as regular or coloured rendering and plastering mortars, and masonry mortars, and these findings promote the circular economy in the construction sector.     

The Influence of HEMC on Cement and Cement-Lime Composites Setting Processes

In this article, the effect of hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC), which is a polymeric viscosity modifying admixture on the mineral based composites setting processes, was studied. Previous studies available in the literature included the evaluation of the influence of this admixture on the hydration processes of cement or lime pastes. In this paper, the analysis of this issue was extended to include cement-lime composites. The composition of the pastes and mortars differed in the type of binder (the tests were carried out on cement-based and cement-lime-based materials, in which the cement was replaced in 50% with hydrated lime), as well as the amount and viscosity of the admixture. The study of mortars setting processes and hardening processes using the ultrasonic method was supplemented in the work with calorimetric measurements and phases analysis by the X-ray diffraction method. Finally, it was found that the HEMC reduces the rate of a hydration reaction in cement and cement-lime pastes. The amount of admixture used has a greater influence on the changes taking place during the setting process than the admixture viscosity or the type of binder.     

Application of Construction and Demolition Waste in Civil Construction in the Brazilian Amazon—Case Study of the City of Rio Branco

The lack of usable aggregates for civil construction in Rio Branco (capital of Acre, a Federal State in the Amazon region) makes the production and use of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste (CDW) an alternative of great interest. In this study, a comprehensive characterization of CDW collected from 24 construction sites of six building types and three different construction phases (structures, masonry, and finishing) was carried out. The fine and coarse recycled aggregates were produced and evaluated in 10 different compositions. The aggregates’ performance was evaluated in four mixtures designed for laying and coating mortars with a total replacement of conventional aggregates and a mixture designed for a C25 concrete with 50% and 100% replacement of conventional aggregates. CDW mortars showed lower densities and greater water retention, initial adhesion, and mechanical strength than conventional mortars. CDW concretes presented lower densities and greater resistance to chloride penetration than conventional concrete, with a small mechanical strength reduction. The recycled CDW aggregates proved to be technologically feasible for safe application in mortars and concrete; for this reason, it is believed that the alternative and proposed methodology is of great interest to the Amazonian construction industry, considering the high costs of raw materials and the need for defining and consolidating a sustainable development model for the Amazon region.     

Study on Deterioration Law and Mechanism of Gray Brick Due to Salt Crystallization

Salinization has an important impact on the degradation of ancient masonry buildings, and systematically mastering the law of salt migration and degradation of ancient masonry buildings is an important part of the protection of ancient buildings. In this paper, the damage law of gray bricks under the action of salt crystallization is studied. The orthogonal test method is used to carry out cyclic degradation tests on gray bricks. The nominal strength is proposed as a mechanical parameter to measure the structural damage of grey bricks, and the change in compressive strength and crystallization pressure of the samples after the test is measured and analyzed. The results show that the damage of different salts in the gray bricks shows a certain difference. Magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride cause significant damage to the surface of the gray bricks, while calcium chloride does not cause significant damage to the surface of the gray bricks. When the concentrations of sodium chloride solution, calcium chloride solution and magnesium sulfate solution are less than 13.73 mol/L, 11.47 mol/L and 17 mol/L, respectively, the nominal strength of gray brick samples increases; In the range of 9.9 mol/L and 4.73–8.94 mol/L, the crystallization pressure began to appear inside the sample. The research results provide an important scientific basis for evaluating the damage caused by salting to the damage of porous ancient building materials such as masonry.     

The Influence of Gum Arabic Admixture on the Mechanical Properties of Lime-Metakaolin Paste Used as Binder in Hemp Concrete

Organic admixtures based on polysaccharides are used in construction for modifying the properties of mortars and concretes. Gum arabic is an example of a polysaccharide-based biopolymer. The aim of the article was to investigate the possibilities of improving the strength parameters of a binder paste based on hydrated lime and metakaolin. The paste was modified with powdered gum arabic at 1%, 3% and 5% (by mass) as a partial replacement for the binder mix. The influence of the admixture on the pore size distribution as well as flexural and compressive strength was investigated. The admixture enhanced the total porosity of the paste, increasing the pore diameter compared with the reference formulation. The increase in porosity, in turn, did not reduce the mechanical strength. Conversely, the admixture in the amount of 3% and 5% caused a significant increase in the flexural (by about 300% in relation to reference paste) and compressive strengths (by 25% and 60%, respectively). The tested pastes were used as a binder in a composite based on hemp shives. The influence of binder modification on the water absorption and compressive strength of hemp concrete was tested. The strength of the composite soaked in water was also tested. The modification of the binder with gum arabic in the amount of 3% and 5% increased the compressive strength of hemp concrete (not soaked in water) by 53% and 92%, respectively and reduced the mass absorptivity by 6.6% and 10.4%, respectively.     

Improving the Durability of Lime Finishing Mortars by Modifying Them with Silicic Acid Sol

Lime materials are in great demand for the restoration of the walls of historical buildings. However, lime coatings have insufficient resistance during operation. The purpose of this work was the modification of lime mortars with silicic acid sol in order to obtain more durable crystalline materials for construction purposes. A technology has been developed for obtaining a silica-containing additive, which consists in passing a liquid glass solution with a density of 1.053 kg/m³ through a cationic column and obtaining a silicic acid sol with a pH of 3–4 and a charge of (−) 0.053 V. The regeneration time and the amount of sol have been determined. Regularities of change in the radius of particles of silicic acid sol depending on age are determined. It is established that at an early age (up to 5 days), the radius of sol particles can be determined in accordance with the Rayleigh equation, and at a later age, in accordance with the Heller equation. The results of the calculation show that at the age of 1–5 days, the radius of the sol particles is 17.1–17.9 nm, and then the particles become coarser and the particle radius is 131.2–143 nm at the age of 19 days. The work of adhesion of silicic acid sol to lime and the heat of wetting are estimated. It is shown that the work of adhesion of water to lime is 28.9 erg/cm², and that of the sol is 32.8 erg/cm². The amount of heat Q released when lime is wetted with SiO₂ sol is 15.0 kJ/kg, and when lime is wetted with water, it is 10.6 kJ/kg.     

Physical,Hydric, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Earth Renders Amended with Dolomitic Lime

The global objective of this work was to manufacture resistant and durable (water resistant) earth renders with good thermal insulation. For this purpose, a medium plastic clayey soil from Kôdéni (Burkina Faso), constituted by kaolinite (62 wt.%), quartz (31 wt.%), and goethite (2 wt.%), was mixed with dolomitic lime (up to 6 wt.%) to manufacture earth renders. The mineralogical, microstructural, and chemical characteristics of dolomitic lime, as well as the physical (linear shrinkage, apparent density, and accessible porosity), hydric (water absorption test by capillarity and spray test), thermal (thermal conductivity), and mechanical (abrasion resistance, flexural, and compressive strengths) properties of the earth renders were evaluated. From these studies, it appears that the addition of dolomitic lime induces the formation of calcium silicate (CSH) and magnesium silicate (MSH) hydrates. These CSH and MSH are mainly formed from the pozzolanic reaction between finely ground quartz and the weak silica of kaolinite in basic media. These formed hydrates improve the physical, hydric, thermal, and mechanical properties of earth renders. This improvement is due to the fact that the formed CSH and MSH stick to the isolated particles of the soil, making them more compact. In view of the good mechanical strength and water resistance, as well as the low thermal conductivity, the elaborated earth renders are suitable for habitats with dry climates, such as the Sahel.     

New Composite Material for Masonry Repair: Mortar Formulations and Experimental Studies

The need for retrofitting existing masonry structures is progressively becoming more important due to their continuous deterioration or need to meet the current design requirements of Eurocodes. Textile-Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite systems have emerged as a sustainable repair methodology suitable for structure retrofitting. Nevertheless, their mechanical performance is still far from being fully investigated. This paper presents an experimental study on the tensile and bond behaviors of a new mortar-based composite consisting of mineral additives, blended cement mortar, and stainless-steel grid. Three different mineral additives (silica fume, fly ash, and blast furnace slag), in binary and ternary systems were used. The experimental study included uniaxial tensile coupon testing on composite specimens and bond tests on composite material applied to clay-brick substrate. The results obtained with the different textile-reinforced cement-based mortars were compared and are discussed here. It was found that, for mortar formulations containing mineral additives—such as fly ash or blast-furnace slag—with high tensile and bond strengths, an adequate adherence between the constituents was obtained. The developed mortar presents mechanical performances equivalent to traditional mortars without additives. The study contributes to the existing knowledge regarding the structural behavior of TRM and promotes the development of a low impact carbon cementitious matrix.