Category: Lime

The presence of sulphates in small quantities tend to accelerate the setting and reduces the slaking action.

These materials convert as soluble salts at a low temperature and thereby cause hydraulicity when present in small quantities (5%).

Hydraulicity is rendered to lime when the magnesium carbonate content is about 30% and this can happen even with the absence of clay. But limes containing large proportions of magnesium carbonate are liable to crack. It has the important property of increasing the setting process but reducing slaking.

In order to develop hydraulicity in lime it is necessary to have silica and alumina during chemical combination with limestone. Hydraulicity in lime is caused due to silicates of calcium, magnesium and aluminium. These silicates are inert at low temperatures and they become active to combine with lime at a high temperature.

It is the material which gives the property of producing hydraulicity in lime. In small quantity it retards slaking and is also capable of arresting slaking when it is in excess. It gives the property of insolubility for lime in water. In order to get the best quality lime it is recommended to have 8–30%… Continue reading Clay

There are several naturally available civil engineering materials or materials directly produced from natural materials. Among them are binding materials, which play a major role. Lime, cement and bitumen are important for civil engineers. Binding materials may be of air binding, hydraulic binding and autoclave binding. Air binding materials, also known as air-setting binding substances,… Continue reading INTRODUCTION