Application of Recycled Ceramics for Modifying Lime Mortars in the Restoration of Roman Period Masonry

Modification of lime mortars by bricks aggregates and additives is known from the Roman period and has been largely applied in the Middle Ages buildings. In conservation works it is required that the new intervention mortars used in cultural heritage should have similar compositions and properties to those of the original mortars. This paper examines the opportunity for using bricks from CDW as pozzolanic additive to lime-based mortars for the restoration of Roman period masonry. Brick powder from 6 CDW sources, including one from Ulpia Oescus, are studied in terms of mineral composition and pozzolanic activity. It has been found that there is a significant difference in the properties of the various bricks powders, but some bricks will be suitable to be used as pozzolanic additives in the intervention masonry lime based mortars.