Natural wollastonite as a performance enhancer for lime mortars

Natural wollastonite as a performance enhancer for lime mortars

Abstract

The addition of various types of fibers, whether natural (plant or animal) or synthetic, can be used to improve the resistance of lime mortars to the formation of drying shrinkage cracks and increase the flexural strength. Wollastonite belongs to the group of natural microfibers, it is an acicular, white mineral with the chemical composition β-CaSiO3. Research into its use in the construction industry has focused mainly on its use in cement composites and alkali-activated materials, where its positive effect has been confirmed in accelerating the hydration process1, reducing the formation of shrinkage cracks and improving flexural strength, while slightly reducing compressive strength. The use of wollastonite in lime mortars has not yet been published. Fine natural wollastonite with a maximum particle size of 0.5 mm was added to the mixtures as a partial lime substitute at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% by weight and fresh state properties and mechanical properties of the mortars were investigated after 28 days.

The addition of various types of fibers, whether natural (plant or animal) or synthetic, can be used to improve the resistance of lime mortars to the formation of drying shrinkage cracks and increase the flexural strength. Wollastonite belongs to the group of natural microfibers, it is an acicular, white mineral with the chemical composition β-CaSiO3. Research into its use in the construction industry has focused mainly on its use in cement composites and alkali-activated materials, where its positive effect has been confirmed in accelerating the hydration process1, reducing the formation of shrinkage cracks and improving flexural strength, while slightly reducing compressive strength. The use of wollastonite in lime mortars has not yet been published. Fine natural wollastonite with a maximum particle size of 0.5 mm was added to the mixtures as a partial lime substitute at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% by weight and fresh state properties and mechanical properties of the mortars were investigated after 28 days.

wollastonite; lime mortar; strength; porosity; water absorption;

wollastonite; lime mortar; strength; porosity; water absorption;

VYŠVAŘIL, M.; ŽIŽLAVSKÝ, T.; SPYCHAL, E.

01.09.2025

Edizioni Quasar

Roma

978-88-5491-636-4

7th Historic Mortars Conference (HMC 2025), Padova

573

575

3

https://hmc2025.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/HMC-2025_Book-of-Extended-Abstracts.pdf