Old School Additives

[Jeff Tobler]

Seeing the various additives used for special application mortars over the past 1900 years, makes me appreciate the modern era's ability to synthesize.

Table 8: The effect of natural organic additives on lime-based mortars (4; 9; 5; 35)

Type of additive Natural compound

Increasing strength - Sugar, molasses, fats, fruit juices, rye dough, rice starch, gluten,
curdled milk, egg white, vegetable gums, casein, cheese, blood

 
Setting time accelerators -Egg white, bullock´s blood, sugar, hog´s lard, casein, starch

Setting time reducers = Sugar, fruit juices, gluten, bullock´s blood, egg white, molasses

Plasticizers - Milk, egg white, fats, sugar, rosin, dung, starch

Aerating agents - Urine, malt, beer

Waterproofing agents and sealants -Fats, oils, waxes, asphalt, sugar materials

Reinforcing fibrous materials -Animal hair, hen, straw, sea-weeds, elm bark, fibrous plants,
cotton, rice paste, barley

[Nathan Giffin Vertical Artisans]

I love it … nice post Jeff!

[Brent Horton]

Sounds,nasty...

[Andre Tyrrell]

Nice post  eggs, sugar and urine eh             Now    ill have a few more options next time im rendering and run out of waterproofer,plasticiser or accellerant.