Effect of a mixed-in crystallization inhibitor on the properties of hydraulic mortars

Ameya Kamat; Barbara Lubelli; Erik Schlangen; Ameya Kamat; Barbara Lubelli; Erik Schlangen

doi:10.3934/matersci.2022038

AIMS Materials Science

2022, Volume 9, Issue 4: 628-641. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2022038

Previous Article Next Article

Research article

Effect of a mixed-in crystallization inhibitor on the properties of hydraulic mortars

1.
Heritage and Architecture, Architecture and Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
2.
Materials and Environment, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

Received: 15 June 2022 Revised: 26 July 2022 Accepted: 09 August 2022 Published: 16 August 2022

Porous building materials are often subjected to damage due to salt crystallization. In recent years, the addition of crystallization inhibitors in lime-based mortar, has shown promising results in improving durability of this material against salt decay. Lime-based mortars have low mechanical properties and slow setting. They are often replaced with hydraulic binders to overcome these limitations. However, the effect of crystallization inhibitors in mortars with hydraulic binders is still unknown. Incorporation of crystallization inhibitors in hydraulic mortars would widen the application field of this new technology. In this research, the possibility to develop hydraulic mortars with mixed-in sodium ferrocyanide, an inhibitor of sodium chloride crystallization, is explored. As an essential first step, the influence of this inhibitor addition on the properties of hydraulic mortars is investigated. Two common types of hydraulic binders, natural hydraulic lime (NHL) and ordinary Portland cement (CEM I), were studied; the inhibitor was added in different amounts (0%, 0.1% and 1% by binder weight) during mortar (and binder paste) preparation. Relevant mortar and binder paste properties, in fresh (hydration, workability, setting time) and hardened (mechanical strength, elastic modulus, pore size distribution, water absorption) state, were assessed using several complementary methods and techniques. The results indicate that the addition of ferrocyanide does not alter the studied properties of both NHL and CEMI-based mortar and binder pastes. These results are promising for the further development of hydraulic mortars with an improved durability with respect to salt decay.
- salt damage,
- crystallization inhibitor,
- hydraulic mortar,
- durability,
- sodium ferrocyanide
Citation: Ameya Kamat, Barbara Lubelli, Erik Schlangen. Effect of a mixed-in crystallization inhibitor on the properties of hydraulic mortars[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2022, 9(4): 628-641. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2022038

Related Papers:

Abstract

Porous building materials are often subjected to damage due to salt crystallization. In recent years, the addition of crystallization inhibitors in lime-based mortar, has shown promising results in improving durability of this material against salt decay. Lime-based mortars have low mechanical properties and slow setting. They are often replaced with hydraulic binders to overcome these limitations. However, the effect of crystallization inhibitors in mortars with hydraulic binders is still unknown. Incorporation of crystallization inhibitors in hydraulic mortars would widen the application field of this new technology. In this research, the possibility to develop hydraulic mortars with mixed-in sodium ferrocyanide, an inhibitor of sodium chloride crystallization, is explored. As an essential first step, the influence of this inhibitor addition on the properties of hydraulic mortars is investigated. Two common types of hydraulic binders, natural hydraulic lime (NHL) and ordinary Portland cement (CEM I), were studied; the inhibitor was added in different amounts (0%, 0.1% and 1% by binder weight) during mortar (and binder paste) preparation. Relevant mortar and binder paste properties, in fresh (hydration, workability, setting time) and hardened (mechanical strength, elastic modulus, pore size distribution, water absorption) state, were assessed using several complementary methods and techniques. The results indicate that the addition of ferrocyanide does not alter the studied properties of both NHL and CEMI-based mortar and binder pastes. These results are promising for the further development of hydraulic mortars with an improved durability with respect to salt decay.

References

[1]	Scherer GW (2004) Stress from crystallization of salt. Cem Concr Res 34: 1613–1624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.12.034 doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2003.12.034
[2]	Hees RPJ Van, Naldini S, Delgado J (2008) Plasters and renders for salt laden substrates. Constr Build Mater 23: 1714–1718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2008.09.009. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2008.09.009
[3]	Granneman SJC, Lubelli B, van Hees RPJ (2019) Mitigating salt damage in building materials by the use of crystallization modifiers–a review and outlook. J Cult Herit 40: 183–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2019.05.004. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2019.05.004
[4]	Bode AAC, Vonk V, Van Den Bruele FJ, et al. (2012) Anticaking activity of ferrocyanide on sodium chloride explained by charge mismatch. Cryst Growth Des 12: 1919–1924. https://doi.org/10.1021/cg201661y. doi: 10.1021/cg201661y
[5]	Townsend ER, Van Enckevort WJP, Meijer JAM, et al. (2017) Additive Enhanced Creeping of Sodium Chloride Crystals. Cryst Growth Des 17: 3107–3115. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.7b00023. doi: 10.1021/acs.cgd.7b00023
[6]	Rodriguez-Navarro C, Linares-Fernandez L, Doehne E, et al. (2002) Effects of ferrocyanide ions on NaCl crystallization in porous stone. J Cryst Growth 243: 503–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0248(02)01499-9. doi: 10.1016/S0022-0248(02)01499-9
[7]	Lubelli B, van Hees RPJ (2007) Effectiveness of crystallization inhibitors in preventing salt damage in building materials. J Cult Herit 8: 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2007.06.001. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2007.06.001
[8]	Rivas T, Alvarez E, Mosquera MJ, et al. (2010) Crystallization modifiers applied in granite desalination: The role of the stone pore structure. Constr Build Mater 24: 766–776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.10.031. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.10.031
[9]	Gupta S, Terheiden K, Pel L, et al. (2012) Influence of ferrocyanide inhibitors on the transport and crystallization processes of sodium chloride in porous building materials. Cryst Growth Des 12: 3888–3898. https://doi.org/10.1021/cg3002288. doi: 10.1021/cg3002288
[10]	Selwitz C, Doehne E (2002) The evaluation of crystallization modifiers for controlling salt damage to limestone. J Cult Herit 3: 205–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1296-2074(02)01182-2. doi: 10.1016/S1296-2074(02)01182-2
[11]	Lubelli B, Nijland TG, Van Hees RPJ, et al. (2010) Effect of mixed in crystallization inhibitor on resistance of lime-cement mortar against NaCl crystallization. Constr Build Mater 24: 2466–2472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.06.010. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.06.010
[12]	Granneman SJC, Lubelli B, van Hees RPJ (2019) Effect of mixed in crystallization modifiers on the resistance of lime mortar against NaCl and Na2SO4 crystallization. Constr Build Mater 194: 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.11.006. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.11.006
[13]	Feijoo J, Ergenç D, Fort R, et al. (2021) Addition of ferrocyanide-based compounds to repairing joint lime mortars as a protective method for porous building materials against sodium chloride damage. Mater Struct 54: 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-020-01596-4. doi: 10.1617/s11527-020-01596-4
[14]	Granneman SJC, Lubelli B, Van Hees RPJ (2018) Characterization of lime mortar additivated with crystallization modifiers. Int J Archit Herit 12: 849–858. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2017.1422570. doi: 10.1080/15583058.2017.1422570
[15]	Maravelaki-Kalaitzaki P, Bakolas A, Karatasios I, et al. (2005) Hydraulic lime mortars for the restoration of historic masonry in Crete. Cem Concr Res 35: 1577–1586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.09.001. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.09.001
[16]	Silva BA, Ferreira Pinto AP, Gomes A (2015) Natural hydraulic lime versus cement for blended lime mortars for restoration works. Constr Build Mater 94: 346–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.06.058. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.06.058
[17]	Silva BA, Ferreira Pinto AP, Gomes A (2014) Influence of natural hydraulic lime content on the properties of aerial lime-based mortars. Constr Build Mater 72: 208–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.09.010. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.09.010
[18]	Mosquera MJ, Silva B, Prieto B, et al. (2006) Addition of cement to lime-based mortars: Effect on pore structure and vapor transport. Cem Concr Res 36: 1635–1642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.10.041. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.10.041
[19]	Arandigoyen M, Alvarez JI (2007) Pore structure and mechanical properties of cement-lime mortars. Cem Concr Res 37: 767–775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.02.023. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2007.02.023
[20]	European Committee for Standardization (2015) Methods of testing cement–Part 1: Determination of strength, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN 196-1.
[21]	European Committee for Standardization (2008) Building lime–Part 2: Test methods, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN 459-2.
[22]	Groot CJWP (1993) Effect of water on mortar-brick bond. Heron 40: 57–70.
[23]	Wijffels T, van Hees R (2000) The influence of the loss of water of the fresh mortar to the substrate on the hygric characteristics of so-called restoration plaster, International Workshop on Urban Heritage and Building Maintenance VII, 49–54.
[24]	European Committee for Standardization (2019) Methods of testing cement–Part 11: Heat of hydration-Isothermal Conduction Calorimetry method, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN 196-11.
[25]	European Committee for Standardization (2016) Methods of testing cement–Part3: Determination of setting times and soundess, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN 196-3.
[26]	European Committee for Standardization (1999) Methods of test for mortar for masonry–Part 3: Determination of consistence of fresh mortar, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN 1015-3
[27]	European Committee for Standardization (2019) Methods of test for mortar for masnory–Part 11: Determination of flexural and conpressive strength of hardened mortar, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN 1015-11.
[28]	European Committee for Standardization (1999) Natural stone test methods–Determination of water absorption coefficient by capillarity, Netherland: Committee for Standardization, NEN-EN-1925.
[29]	Lanas J, Bernal JLP, Bello MA, et al. (2004) Mechanical properties of natural hydraulic lime-based mortars. Cem Concr Res 34: 2191–2201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.02.005. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2004.02.005

Reader Comments

Your name:*

Email:*
© 2022 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)