Lime plaster is a type of plaster composed of sand, water, and lime, usually non-hydraulic hydrated lime (also known as slaked lime, high calcium lime or air lime). Ancient lime plaster often contained horse hair for reinforcement and pozzolan additives to reduce the working time.
Traditional non-hydraulic hydrated lime only sets through carbonatation when the plaster is kept moist and access of CO2 from the air is possible. It will not set when submersed in water. When a very thick layer or several layers are applied, the lime can remain soft for weeks.
The curing time of lime plaster can be shortened by using (natural) hydraulic lime or adding pozzolan additives, transforming it into artificially hydraulic lime. In ancient times, Roman lime plaster incorporated pozzolanic volcanic ash; in modern times, fly ash is preferred. Non-hydraulic lime plaster can also be made to set faster by adding gypsum.
Lime production for use in plastering home-made cisterns (in making them impermeable) was especially important in countries where rain-fall was scarce in summer. This enabled them to collect the winter run-off of rain water and to have it stored for later use, whether for personal or agricultural needs.[1]
Lime plaster sets up to a solid mass that is durable yet flexible.[2] Hydraulic lime plaster is not as hard as cement plaster. Hydraulic limes and historic limes were graded as feeble, moderate and eminent. Modern hydraulic limes would be graded at 2, 3.5, or 5 newtons. Portland cement plaster on the other hand would typically be in the region of 25 to 35 newtons when cured; i.e. up to 10 times harder. Lime plaster is less affected by water and will not soften or dissolve like drywall and earthen or gypsum plaster. Unlike gypsum or clay plaster, lime plaster is sufficiently durable and resistant to the elements to be used for exterior plastering.
Compared to cement plaster, plaster made from hydrated lime is less brittle and less prone to cracking, requiring no expansion joints. It will not detach from the wall when subjected to shear stress due to expansion inflicted by solar radiation and moisture. Unlike cement plaster, it will shield softer materials from shear stresses. This would otherwise possibly cause the deterioration of the underlying surface. It is usually not recommended to replace more than 20% of the lime content with cement when rendering the facade, and it is a matter of contention whether adding any concrete is ever appropriate in order to maintain the benefits of lime over concrete.
Lime plaster is permeable and allows for the diffusion and evaporation of moisture. However, when properly worked with pozzolanic agents and animal fat, it becomes impermeable.[3][4]
The elevated pH of the lime in the plaster acts as a fungicide, preventing mold from growing in lime plaster.[citation needed]
Disadvantages
Non-hydraulic lime plaster sets slowly and is quite caustic while wet, with a pH of 12. Plasterers must take care to protect themselves or use mild acids as vinegar or lemon juice to neutralize chemical burn.[5] When the plaster is dry, the pH falls to about 8.6. Non-hydraulic lime plaster requires moisture to set and has to be prevented from drying for several days. The number of qualified tradesmen capable of plastering with lime has declined due to industrialization, deskilling of trade crafts, and widespread adoption of drywall and gypsum veneer plaster.[6][7]
Historical use in the arts
One of the earliest examples of lime plaster dates back to the end of the eighth millennium BC. Three statues were discovered in a buried pit at 'Ain Ghazal in Jordan that were sculpted with lime plaster over armatures of reeds and twine. They were made in the pre-pottery neolithic period, around 7200 BC.[8] The fact that these sculptures have lasted so long is a testament to the durability of lime plaster.[9]
Historical uses in building
Lime plaster was a common multi-purpose material used throughout the PPNB Levant, Iran and Anatolia, including Jericho, 'Ain Ghazal, Çatalhöyük and Çayönü. It was used for internal walls, floors and internal platforms.[10] At the archaeological site of 'Ain Ghazal in modern-day Jordan, occupied from 7200 BC to 5000 BC, lime plaster is believed to have been used as the main component of the large anthropomorphical figurines discovered there in the 1980s.[11]
Qadad lime plaster is waterproof and used for interiors and exteriors
Some of the earliest known examples of lime used for building purposes are in ancient Egyptian buildings (primarily monuments). Some of these edifices are found in the chambers of the pyramids, and date to between the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties (~2000 BC). They are still hard and intact.
Archaeological digs carried out on the island of Malta have shown that in places like Tarxien and Hagar, lime stucco was also used as a binder to hold stone together as well as for decoration at sites dating back as far as 3000–2500 BC.
At el-Amarna, a large pavement on brick was discovered that dates back to 1400 BC. It was apparently the floor of part of the harem of King Amenhotep IV.[12]
Ancient Chinese used Suk-wui (the Chinese word for slaked lime) in the construction of The Great Wall of China.
Ancient Romans used hydraulic lime (added volcanic ash, an activated aluminium silicate) to ensure hardening of plaster and concrete in cold or wet conditions.
The Aztec Empire and other Mesoamerican civilizations used lime plaster to pave streets in their cities.[13] It was also used to coat the walls and floors of buildings.
This material was used in the San Luis Mission architecture.[14]
^Eliyahu-Behar, A.; Yahalom-Mack, N.; Ben-Shlomo, D. (2017). "Excavation and Analysis of an Early Iron Age Lime Kiln", Israel Exploration Journal 67, p. 29
^Rahimzadeh, Chiya Y.; Mohammed, Ahmed Salih; Barzinjy, Azeez A. (3 October 2022). "Microstructure characterizations, thermal analysis, and compression stress–strain behavior of lime-based plaster". Construction and Building Materials. 350: 128921. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128921. ISSN 0950-0618.
^Elert, Kerstin; García Sánchez, Rosa Maria; Benavides-Reyes, Cristina; Linares Ordóñez, Fátima (30 November 2019). "Influence of animal glue on mineralogy, strength and weathering resistance of lime plasters". Construction and Building Materials. 226: 625–635. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.07.261. ISSN 0950-0618.
^Hagsten, Ellen. General Guidelines for Working with Lime Mortar and Limewash, Traditional & Sustainable Building, March 2007
^Leslie, Thomas (2020). ""Dry and Ready in Half the Time:" Gypsum Wallboard's Uneasy History". doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.30855.83365. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Nicholas, Stephen J.; Nicholas, Jacqueline M. (1992). "Male Literacy, "Deskilling," and the Industrial Revolution". The Journal of Interdisciplinary History. 23 (1): 1–18. doi:10.2307/205479. ISSN 0022-1953.
^"Lime plaster statues". britishmuseum.org. British Museum. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
^J.N. Tubb, Canaanites, London, The British Museum Press, 1998
^Garfinkel, Yosef. "Y. Garfinkel. 1987. Burnt Lime Products and Social Implications in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B Villages of the Near East. Paléorient 13/1: 68–75".
^Cowper, Ad. Lime and Lime Mortars, first published for the Building Research Station by HM Stationery Office, London, 1927
^Evans, Susan Toby (2008). Ancient Mexico & Central America: Archaeology and Culture History. ISBN978-0-500-28714-9.
^organiksoft.com, OrganikSoft. "Historic Features - Old Mission San Luis Rey". sanluisrey.org.
Further reading
Cedar Rose Guelberth and Dan Chiras, The Natural Plaster Book: earth, lime and gypsum plasters for natural homes'
J.N. Tubb, Canaanites, London, The British Museum Press, 1998
Stafford Holmes, Michael Wingate, Building With Lime: A Practical Introduction, Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd,
Goren, Yuval; Goldberg, Paul; Stahl, Peter W.; Brinker, Udo H. (1991), "News and Short Contributions", Journal of Field Archaeology, 18 (1): 131–140, doi:10.2307/530161, JSTOR 530161
^"Learning Center". Lancaster Lime Works. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
January 20, 2023
lime, plaster, type, plaster, composed, sand, water, lime, usually, hydraulic, hydrated, lime, also, known, slaked, lime, high, calcium, lime, lime, ancient, lime, plaster, often, contained, horse, hair, reinforcement, pozzolan, additives, reduce, working, tim. Lime plaster is a type of plaster composed of sand water and lime usually non hydraulic hydrated lime also known as slaked lime high calcium lime or air lime Ancient lime plaster often contained horse hair for reinforcement and pozzolan additives to reduce the working time Limestone plastered wall discovered in Pompei Traditional non hydraulic hydrated lime only sets through carbonatation when the plaster is kept moist and access of CO2 from the air is possible It will not set when submersed in water When a very thick layer or several layers are applied the lime can remain soft for weeks The curing time of lime plaster can be shortened by using natural hydraulic lime or adding pozzolan additives transforming it into artificially hydraulic lime In ancient times Roman lime plaster incorporated pozzolanic volcanic ash in modern times fly ash is preferred Non hydraulic lime plaster can also be made to set faster by adding gypsum Lime production for use in plastering home made cisterns in making them impermeable was especially important in countries where rain fall was scarce in summer This enabled them to collect the winter run off of rain water and to have it stored for later use whether for personal or agricultural needs 1 Contents 1 Advantages 2 Disadvantages 3 Historical use in the arts 4 Historical uses in building 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksAdvantages EditLime plaster sets up to a solid mass that is durable yet flexible 2 Hydraulic lime plaster is not as hard as cement plaster Hydraulic limes and historic limes were graded as feeble moderate and eminent Modern hydraulic limes would be graded at 2 3 5 or 5 newtons Portland cement plaster on the other hand would typically be in the region of 25 to 35 newtons when cured i e up to 10 times harder Lime plaster is less affected by water and will not soften or dissolve like drywall and earthen or gypsum plaster Unlike gypsum or clay plaster lime plaster is sufficiently durable and resistant to the elements to be used for exterior plastering Compared to cement plaster plaster made from hydrated lime is less brittle and less prone to cracking requiring no expansion joints It will not detach from the wall when subjected to shear stress due to expansion inflicted by solar radiation and moisture Unlike cement plaster it will shield softer materials from shear stresses This would otherwise possibly cause the deterioration of the underlying surface It is usually not recommended to replace more than 20 of the lime content with cement when rendering the facade and it is a matter of contention whether adding any concrete is ever appropriate in order to maintain the benefits of lime over concrete Lime plaster is permeable and allows for the diffusion and evaporation of moisture However when properly worked with pozzolanic agents and animal fat it becomes impermeable 3 4 The elevated pH of the lime in the plaster acts as a fungicide preventing mold from growing in lime plaster citation needed Disadvantages EditNon hydraulic lime plaster sets slowly and is quite caustic while wet with a pH of 12 Plasterers must take care to protect themselves or use mild acids as vinegar or lemon juice to neutralize chemical burn 5 When the plaster is dry the pH falls to about 8 6 Non hydraulic lime plaster requires moisture to set and has to be prevented from drying for several days The number of qualified tradesmen capable of plastering with lime has declined due to industrialization deskilling of trade crafts and widespread adoption of drywall and gypsum veneer plaster 6 7 Historical use in the arts EditOne of the earliest examples of lime plaster dates back to the end of the eighth millennium BC Three statues were discovered in a buried pit at Ain Ghazal in Jordan that were sculpted with lime plaster over armatures of reeds and twine They were made in the pre pottery neolithic period around 7200 BC 8 The fact that these sculptures have lasted so long is a testament to the durability of lime plaster 9 Historical uses in building EditLime plaster was a common multi purpose material used throughout the PPNB Levant Iran and Anatolia including Jericho Ain Ghazal Catalhoyuk and Cayonu It was used for internal walls floors and internal platforms 10 At the archaeological site of Ain Ghazal in modern day Jordan occupied from 7200 BC to 5000 BC lime plaster is believed to have been used as the main component of the large anthropomorphical figurines discovered there in the 1980s 11 Qadad lime plaster is waterproof and used for interiors and exteriors Some of the earliest known examples of lime used for building purposes are in ancient Egyptian buildings primarily monuments Some of these edifices are found in the chambers of the pyramids and date to between the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties 2000 BC They are still hard and intact Archaeological digs carried out on the island of Malta have shown that in places like Tarxien and Hagar lime stucco was also used as a binder to hold stone together as well as for decoration at sites dating back as far as 3000 2500 BC At el Amarna a large pavement on brick was discovered that dates back to 1400 BC It was apparently the floor of part of the harem of King Amenhotep IV 12 Ancient Chinese used Suk wui the Chinese word for slaked lime in the construction of The Great Wall of China Ancient Romans used hydraulic lime added volcanic ash an activated aluminium silicate to ensure hardening of plaster and concrete in cold or wet conditions The Aztec Empire and other Mesoamerican civilizations used lime plaster to pave streets in their cities 13 It was also used to coat the walls and floors of buildings This material was used in the San Luis Mission architecture 14 See also Edit Ain Ghazal Faux Finishing Fresco a method of painting on fresh plaster Gypsum Lime material Lime mortar Limepit Limestone Plaster Plaster of Paris Plasterwork Qadad a waterproofing method for lime plaster Tadelakt a waterproofing method for lime plaster Sarooj WhitewashReferences Edit Eliyahu Behar A Yahalom Mack N Ben Shlomo D 2017 Excavation and Analysis of an Early Iron Age Lime Kiln Israel Exploration Journal 67 p 29 Rahimzadeh Chiya Y Mohammed Ahmed Salih Barzinjy Azeez A 3 October 2022 Microstructure characterizations thermal analysis and compression stress strain behavior of lime based plaster Construction and Building Materials 350 128921 doi 10 1016 j conbuildmat 2022 128921 ISSN 0950 0618 Qafih Y 1982 Halichot Teman Jewish Life in Sana in Hebrew Jerusalem Ben Zvi Institute p 248 ISBN 965 17 0137 4 OCLC 863513860 Elert Kerstin Garcia Sanchez Rosa Maria Benavides Reyes Cristina Linares Ordonez Fatima 30 November 2019 Influence of animal glue on mineralogy strength and weathering resistance of lime plasters Construction and Building Materials 226 625 635 doi 10 1016 j conbuildmat 2019 07 261 ISSN 0950 0618 Hagsten Ellen General Guidelines for Working with Lime Mortar and Limewash Traditional amp Sustainable Building March 2007 Leslie Thomas 2020 Dry and Ready in Half the Time Gypsum Wallboard s Uneasy History doi 10 13140 RG 2 2 30855 83365 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Nicholas Stephen J Nicholas Jacqueline M 1992 Male Literacy Deskilling and the Industrial Revolution The Journal of Interdisciplinary History 23 1 1 18 doi 10 2307 205479 ISSN 0022 1953 Lime plaster statues britishmuseum org British Museum Retrieved 21 November 2013 J N Tubb Canaanites London The British Museum Press 1998 Garfinkel Yosef Y Garfinkel 1987 Burnt Lime Products and Social Implications in the Pre Pottery Neolithic B Villages of the Near East Paleorient 13 1 68 75 https sites utexas edu dsb files 2018 07 Monumental Figures pdf bare URL PDF Cowper Ad Lime and Lime Mortars first published for the Building Research Station by HM Stationery Office London 1927 Evans Susan Toby 2008 Ancient Mexico amp Central America Archaeology and Culture History ISBN 978 0 500 28714 9 organiksoft com OrganikSoft Historic Features Old Mission San Luis Rey sanluisrey org Further reading EditCedar Rose Guelberth and Dan Chiras The Natural Plaster Book earth lime and gypsum plasters for natural homes J N Tubb Canaanites London The British Museum Press 1998 Stafford Holmes Michael Wingate Building With Lime A Practical Introduction Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd Goren Yuval Goldberg Paul Stahl Peter W Brinker Udo H 1991 News and Short Contributions Journal of Field Archaeology 18 1 131 140 doi 10 2307 530161 JSTOR 530161 Lancaster Limeworks Learning Center 1 External links EditBritish Museum Lime Plaster Statues 1 2 Learning Center Lancaster Lime Works Retrieved 12 January 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lime plaster amp oldid 1133215670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
