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Optical microscopy analysis of mortars from Tagus River 16th and 17th century fortifications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

Teresa Guerreiro
Affiliation:
Universidade de Évora, Geosciences Department and Geophysics Center of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal (jmirao@uevora.pt)
Antonio Santos Silva
Affiliation:
Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil, Materials Department, Av. Brasil 101, 1700-066 Lisbon, Portugal (ssilva@lnec.pt, padriano@lnec.pt)
Patricia Adriano
Affiliation:
Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil, Materials Department, Av. Brasil 101, 1700-066 Lisbon, Portugal (ssilva@lnec.pt, padriano@lnec.pt)
Antonio Candeias
Affiliation:
Universidade de Évora, Chemistry Department and Évora Chemistry Center, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal (candeias@uevora.pt)
Jose Mirao
Affiliation:
Universidade de Évora, Geosciences Department and Geophysics Center of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal (jmirao@uevora.pt)

Abstract

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Mortars are common and essential elements of masonry historical buildings and are composed by a binder, aggregates and eventually, some additives. The binder provides consistency to this composite material, and until the emergence of Portland cement in the 19th century, lime was the main binder used. The aggregates are normally sand or rock fragments with variable sizes. The whole set is morphologically very similar to a sedimentary clastic rock with carbonate cementing. Following an old tradition of microscope use in this kind of rocks, it is not surprising the application of optical microscopy to mortars as also happened with concrete.

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Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2008