SEDL / STP / STP1352-EB / STP13335S

Comparative Investigation of Plastic Properties and Water Permeance of Cement-Lime Mortars and Cement-Lime Replacement Mortars

Schuller, MP
Principal, Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc., Boulder, Colorado

van der Hoeven, RSK
Engineer, Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc., Boulder, Colorado

Thomson, ML
Technical Manager, Building Construction, Chemical Lime Company, Henderson, Nevada

Pages: 18    Published: Jan 1999

Download this paper for $25 PDF (392K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

A research program was developed to investigate relative properties of three mortars containing lime-replacement additives compared to the properties of four traditional portland cement-lime mortars used in masonry construction. Plastic and hardened properties were determined using standard ASTM test methods. The test program indicates that, although the three lime-replacement mortars have comparable compressive strengths to portland cement-lime mortars, they have significantly different water retention and air content percentages and, as tested, the lime-replacement mortars do not meet specification requirements of either ASTM or ICBO. In addition, masonry walls constructed with the three lime-replacement mortars studied in this program were less resistant to water penetration than walls constructed with portland cement-lime mortars. It is suggested that ASTM specifications and test methods currently under development consider the essential properties of water retention, air content, and water penetration resistance in addition to compressive strength for acceptance of lime-replacement materials.