Revamping the traditional air lime mortar using the natural polymer – Areca nut for restoration application

Abstract

The modification in lime mortar to preserve the historic structures is the growing trend in current scenario. The natural polymer, areca nut extract in concentrations of 3% and 5% was incorporated in the lime mortar to modify the fresh and hardened state properties. The microstructural analyses of the modified mortar were studied by X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM−EDS analysis. The results obtained from these analytical techniques are substantiated with the results of TG-DTA. Inclusion of areca nut extract in the lime mortar proves to be superior against the conventional mortar in mechanical, physical and durability properties.