Experimental study of hot mixed mortars in comparison with lime putty and hydrate mortars

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in order to understand the influence of hot mixing on the properties of hardened mortars in comparison with mortars made of lime hydrate and lime putty. Lime from the same quarry and producer was used in the form of lime hydrate, lime putty and quicklime. Two types of quicklime were used, varying in their calcination conditions and also their reactivity. Standard specimens of 40 × 40 × 160 mm were cast and evaluated after curing. Mechanical (compressive and flexural strength) and physical properties (open porosity, bulk density, capillary absorption) were determined on the specimens of hardened mortars. Thin sections of the mortars were prepared and evaluated using polarising microscopy in order to describe the structure of mortar including the presence of binder related particles. The produced hot mixed mortars had hardened properties comparable with the lime putty and lime hydrate mortars. Due to the micro-cracks in the binding matrix the hot mixed mortars showed higher porosity and capillary absorption. The heterogeneity of the hot mixed mortars was a result of the preparation technology. © RILEM 2012.