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hydraulic lime

construction
Also known as: lime mortar

Quick Summary

Hydraulic lime is a cementitious product derived from burning hydraulic limestone. Hydraulic limestone contains silica and alumina, allowing the resulting lime to harden even when submerged in water. This property makes it a type of water lime.123

The use of hydraulic cements dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, where lime was mixed with volcanic ash. This combination, when exposed to water, formed a hard mass used in mortars and concretes. Modern cements, like Portland cement, evolved from these early hydraulic limes. Cements with higher slag content, such as portland blast-furnace (slag) cement, offer increased resistance to chemical attack.45

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