Grouting and Repair Mortars for Archaeological Sites

What is it about?

Different grouting and repair mortars were developed and evaluated for the conservation and restoration of fragmented bricks and to repairs ceramic floor tiles in the former Palace of Coudenberg in Brussels.

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Why is it important?

In this paper the method to prevent the deposition of lime bloom at the surface of masonry is explained and the effect of brick powder added to natural hydraulic lime was studied. Ancient and modern bricks were added to putty lime and had hardened under water into a remarkably tough material. The results are important as ancient bricks did not seem to possess higher pozzolanic properties than the more modern ones, although it is supposed that they were fired at lower temperatures.