2.

LIME-CEMENTAGGREGATESMORTAR

CONTENTS

Lime Preparation of lime mortar Cement

Ingredients Manufacturing process Types and
Grades Properties of cement and Cement mortar
Hydration Compressive strength Tensile strength
Fineness Soundness and consistency Setting time
Industrial byproducts Fly ash Aggregates
Natural stone aggregates Crushing strength Impact
strength Flakiness Index Elongation Index
Abrasion Resistance Grading Sand Bulking.

LIME

Lime used in construction is produced from calcium

carbonates in the form of limestone, seashells, coral,
kankar, etc
While heating calcium carbonate, (calcination
process) carbon dioxide is given off as gas, and the
resulting product is calcium oxide or quicklime
CaCO3 + heat CaO + CO2

SLAKING OF LIME

Quicklime is not a stable product. If it is left

exposed to air, it absorbs carbon dioxide from air
and reverts back to carbonate
Hence quicklime should be slaked to calcium
hydroxide (hydrated lime or slaked lime) as early as
possible to make the material stable.
This is done by pouring water over quicklime.

SLAKED LIME /HYDRATE OF

LIME

It is formed by the absorption of water by quick lime

and is the hydrated oxide of calcium, Ca(OH)2
CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2
(quick lime)

(slaked lime)

A dry powder obtained by treating quick lime with

water, just sufficient to convert lime into calcium
hydroxide is called hydrated lime

SLAKING OF LIME

It is the process of chemical combination of quick

lime with required quantity of water for killing the
heat and getting into powder form for use

SOURCES OF LIME

Limestone found in hills, in the beds of old rivers

Kankar found below ground
Shells of sea animals

PROPERTIES OF LIME

Easily workable
Offers good resistance to moisture
Stiffens early
An excellent cement and adheres to the masonry units
perfectly

USES OF LIME

It is used as a matrix for concrete.

It is used as a binding material in mortars for
stoneware.
It is used for plastering walls, ceilings, etc.
It is employed for white washing and as a base coat
for distempers.

LIME MORTARS
Types
Non-hydraulic lime mortars
Hydraulic lime mortars
Black mortars
Non-hydraulic lime mortars
These mortars are prepared by mixing fat lime (well
slaked before use) with sand. The usual proportions of
lime and sand are 1:2 or 1:3 by volume
They are suitable only for thin joints

Hydraulic lime mortars

These mortars for made from class A and class B
limes
Mortar made with 1 part of fat lime and 2 parts of
surkhi or 1 part of the lime plus 1 part of surkhi
and 1 part of sand is mostly used in the foundations
and superstructures of ordinary buildings
Black mortars
In these mortars, the usual proportions are 1 part lime
to 3 parts of ash or cinder (1:3)

PREPARATION OF LIME
MORTARS

Ordinary lime mortars are made by grinding lime with

sand.
They have good working qualities, high water
retention and freedom from shrinkage and
cracking as compared to cement mortar. But they give
only low strengths

PREPARATION METHODS
Method 1
Dry-mix the lime and sand in the specified proportion
on a platform or more often in a trough. The
necessary quantity of water is sprinkled in stages and
the mixture is ground to a plastic mix by pounding
with heavy wooden hammers
Method 2 (Bullock-driven mortar mill)
It is adopted when a large quantity of mortar is needed,
is to use a bullock-driven mortar mill. The mixture
is ground at least for 180 revolutions to get a suitable
mortar

Method 3 (power-driven mortar mill)

It is the modern method for preparing large quantities
of lime mortar, is to use a machine-driven pug or
mortar mill for making lime mortar.
Mixing (or rather grinding) is done for at least three
minutes for brickwork and longer for plaster for
plasterwork and pointing and terrace works.
Note: The grinding thus depends on the need for
fineness of work

COMMONLY USED LIME

MORTAR PROPORTIONS

Mortar for brick or stonework 1:2

Plaster for first coat 1:1.5
Plaster for second coat lime only as putty
Mortar for terrace work 1:1.5
Mortar for flat tiles 1:1.5