Characterization of Lime Mortars from an 18th Century River Tagus Quay (Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

The monumental quay Cais das Colunas was built in the decades 1770 to 1790, merged in the reconstruction plan of the city of Lisbon after the great 1755 earthquake. Characterization studies of mortars from this period are still very few. In 1997 the quay was partially dismounted and in 2008 was reconstructed. During the reconstruction intervention ancient mortars, from the core, were sampled in order to study them. This paper presents the mineralogical, chemical and granulometric characterization and capillarity water absorption of samples from these mortars. The analytical methodology comprised: the qualitative mineralogical analysis by powder method of total sample by X-Ray diffraction; the quantitative chemical analysis of total sample by X-Ray fluorescence; the water absorption by capillarity coefficient; the determination of hydrochloric acid insoluble residue; and the granulometric analysis of insoluble residue. This methodology allowed determining the simplified composition of mortars. It was confirmed the use of local sands and aerial lime based binder.