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The influence of binder/aggregate ratio on the pore properties and strength of repair mortars

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Abstract

Repair mortars with different B/Ag (binder/aggregate) ratios and natural stone were studied in order to understand the influence of limestone aggregate on the properties of mortar and to check the compatibility of repair mortar with a porous limestone. Three different types of mortars with three different aggregate contents were evaluated by using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and water saturation method (WSM). Changes in density and uniaxial compressive strength as a function of aggregate content were also recorded. For comparison the properties of the porous limestone were also tested, since it is used in monuments and also as aggregate in the mortar. Tested mortars had average porosities of 27.0 % (±2.0), while oolitic limestone has higher average porosity of 32.2 % (±1.9). The limestone has mainly medium and large pore radii (1–100 μm) while the repair mortars even with high aggregate content has predominantly smaller pores. All but one pure repair mortars have higher uniaxial compressive strength than that of the oolitic limestone. The strength decreases while porosity increases with increasing aggregate content.

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Acknowledgments

The tests were performed within the frame of DAAD MÖB research program (project no. P-MÖB/842).This work is also connected to the scientific program of the “Development of quality-oriented and harmonized R + D + I strategy and functional model at BME” project. This project is supported by the New Széchenyi Plan (Project ID: TÁMOP-4.2.1/B-09/1/KMR-2010-0002). The authors are grateful to S. Heidrun, M. Morales for the technical help in laboratory analyses. The reviews of M. Álvarez de Buergo and an anonymous reviewer are appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction Materials and Engineering Geology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary

    B. Szemerey-Kiss & Á. Török

  2. Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum der Universität Göttingen, Goldschmidt Str. 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    S. Siegesmund

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  1. B. Szemerey-Kiss
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Correspondence to Á. Török.

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Szemerey-Kiss, B., Török, Á. & Siegesmund, S. The influence of binder/aggregate ratio on the pore properties and strength of repair mortars. Environ Earth Sci 69, 1439–1449 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2413-0

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