The use of a scanning electron microscope equipped with a microanalytical system is proposed for characterising the ancient mortars. A calculation procedure is presented that allows determining the binder and aggregate compositions (including volatile components) from microprobe data collected on the binder and chemical, mineralogical, petrographical and physical data collected on the mortar bulk sample. The proposed procedure is applied to eleven mortar samples from three historical monuments built in Pisa during the Middle Ages. The binder of the analysed samples consists of a carbonate crystalline fraction and an amorphous carbonate-free fraction that makes up from 20 % to 60 % by weight of the binder. The aggregate composition, on average, closes to that of the Arno river sands.
A procedure for determining the chemical composition of binder and aggregate in ancient mortars: its application to mortars from some medieval buildings in Pisa
FRANZINI, MARCO;LEONI, LEONARDO;LEZZERINI, MARCO
2000-01-01
Abstract
The use of a scanning electron microscope equipped with a microanalytical system is proposed for characterising the ancient mortars. A calculation procedure is presented that allows determining the binder and aggregate compositions (including volatile components) from microprobe data collected on the binder and chemical, mineralogical, petrographical and physical data collected on the mortar bulk sample. The proposed procedure is applied to eleven mortar samples from three historical monuments built in Pisa during the Middle Ages. The binder of the analysed samples consists of a carbonate crystalline fraction and an amorphous carbonate-free fraction that makes up from 20 % to 60 % by weight of the binder. The aggregate composition, on average, closes to that of the Arno river sands.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
