Design of Compatible Mortars for a Late Roman Tomb in Serbia

Bio-Stimulated Surface Healing of Historical and Compatible Conservation Mortars

“…The composition of this mortar mixture was as follows: binder-to-aggregate volume ratio of 1 to 2 (slaked lime 1, crushed brick 0.2 as pozzolanic material, river sand 1.6 and milled limestone 0.2). This mixture was considered to be compatible since it exhibited lower a value of the average drilling force compared to the original historical mortar (HM) [ 4 ]. The total colour difference between the selected MM and HM (ΔE = 0.94) was lower than 3, which meant that the MM was visually highly compatible with the HM (the difference could not be detected with the naked eye) [ 18 ].…”

“…The composition and production technology for the conservation model mortars (intended for future use as a rendering layer) were developed based on the characteristics of the historical mortars (HM samples). For the design of compatible systems, an already-proven methodology for the design of compatible mortars for a late Roman tomb in Serbia was used [ 4 ]. The designed model mortars were artificially aged in the laboratory using a Binder Climate Chamber KBWF 240 device.…”

“…The artificial ageing procedure was set up based on the average climatic parameters in Serbia, relevant scientific publications, our previous experience and an already proven methodology for the design of compatible systems [ 4 , 6 ]. In the first 5 days, the MM samples were exposed to room conditions (T = 20 °C and RH = 60%), after which they were placed in a climate chamber for one month, combining exposure to high and low temperatures and different relative humidities (T = 30 °C and RH = 80% for 5 days, T = 0 °C and RH = 60% for 24 h, repeated for 5 cycles in total).…”

“…The research showed that a common methodology for the research of historical and the preparation of conservation mortars for the buildings of The Danube Limes in Serbia could be proposed as an important set of recommendations for the protection of these monuments. The application of a conservation mixture for a bedding mortar, made according to the characteristics of the promising conservation models developed in the laboratory, was conducted on the wall of a later Roman tomb of Brestovik [ 4 ]. The applied lime mortar was made of river aggregate from the Danube, slaked lime and clay.…”