ABSTRACT
An increasing amount of effort is being put into the development and testing of different formulation of lime mortars, especially in Europe. Such mortars are used in the main in historic buildings and are required to be durable, frost resistant and to carbonate quickly. The sample of mortar types described in this paper are part of a more extensive programme known as the Smeaton Project in which several organisation are involved including ICCROM, English Heritage, BRE, and the University of Bournemouth.
Mortars of a range of composition derived from lime putty and incorporating pozzolanic and porous particulate material have been subjected to a series of tests including vapour permeability, freeze-thaw and salt crystallisation. Some physical properties of the wet mixes as well as the cured material have also been determined.
The paper summarises the range of formulations used, the significance of pozzolanic additives, and the preliminary findings from tests selected to assess long-term durability.
