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The effect of alkali activation on the durability, mechanical properties, and characterization of alccofine-modified air lime mortar

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Abstract

The modification of lime mortar to conserve architectural heritage buildings is being widely practiced today. The effect of the mix ratio (B/Ag) on the fresh and hardened state properties of air lime–alccofine mortar using analytical techniques was investigated in this research. Air lime was mixed with alccofine in the ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, and alkali activation solutions in proportions of 2.5%, 2.75%, and 3% were added to the mix. The XRD, FTIR, and SEM analyses were used to investigate the mineralogical properties of the modified mortar. Thermogravimetric analysis confirms the XRD and FTIR results, which point to strength gain of the mix. TGA confirms the outcome of the XRD analysis and indicated weight loss at around 800 °C, showing decomposition of calcite and release of CO2. SEM images validated the presence of calcite and hematite. It was observed that the compressive strength values for the mortar modified with 25% alccofine with alkali activation (2.75%) were 1.76 MPa at 7 days and 2.17 MPa at 28 days and flexural strength values were 0.64 MPa at 7 days and 0.74 MPa at 28 days. When 25% alccofine and 2.75% of activated alkali solution are introduced, the compressive and flexural strengths of the resulting mortar steadily improved and reached the maximum of 1.81 MPa and 0.56 MPa, respectively. The analysis in our study shows that the conventional lime mortar mix made up of air lime and alccofine prepared by alkali activation is a sustainable material in the fresh and hardened states. Therefore, our findings assist in preparing a viable mortar for the restoration of historic masonry structures.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattakulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kotteeswaran Santhanam & Ravi Ramadoss

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KS was involved in the conceptualization, methodology, writing, and original draft preparation. RR contributed to the reviewing, results, and discussion.

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Santhanam, K., Ramadoss, R. The effect of alkali activation on the durability, mechanical properties, and characterization of alccofine-modified air lime mortar. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 137, 1057 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-03280-8

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