Standardized and non-standardized tests to study the hygric behaviour of repair rendering mortars

Abstract eng:
This study rises from the perplexity about the adoption of standardized methods for the evaluation of mortar behaviour towards water. Standards are often not very specific, with the consequence that they are used on a wide range of materials. With the aim to study the different factors that affect the durability of a rendering mortar and then to supply a more realistic reference for the assessment of mortar resistance to water, we have performed new laboratory ageing tests that have been designed specifically for renders. The hygric behaviour of mortars was determined by means of water absorption and drying tests as well as by specific, non-standardized weathering cycles that include a wide range of atmospheric conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity variations) and the effect of water (in form of rain). By means of this study, we demonstrate that the design of specific weathering tests is essential for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of decay occurring in rendering mortars. Moreover, due to the particular environmental conditions and sample sizes tested here, these methods can be taken as a reference to assess the resistance to other weathering agents (e.g. salts and pollutants) of mortars intended for application in other areas with similar or milder climates.

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