Lime

Calcium oxide. It is the firing product of lime stone, which is a limestone made of calcium carbonate in a fairly pure state; it is one of the cemented, and among them it is the only one that causes the phenomenon of quenching when water is brought into contact.

Lime represents, par excellence, the craft and art of building. A natural material used since ancient times - the oldest artifact, a pavement found in southern Galilee, is dated to 7000 BC - used by Phoenicians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Lime was then gradually forgotten starting in the 19th century when cement took over. Today we know that this material not only guarantees a better environmental impact, but has chemical-physical properties that make it a privileged choice

Features:

Enviromental impact
Plasticity ed elasticity
Breathability
Aesthetics

Applications:

Masonry
Plasters
Lime dyes

Breathability (μ)

5-20

Ability of a material to be passed through by water vapor
Protect yourself from condensation and mold: the lower its value, the greater your ability to dispose of internal moisture
Thermal Conductivity (λ)

0,76 W/mK

The ability of a substance to transmit heat
To defend against the cold: the lower its value, the greater the insulation capacity
Specific Heat Capacity (Cp)

1000 J/KgK

Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree
To protect against heat: the higher its value, the slower it accumulates heat
Density (ρ)

150-190 Kg/m

How is the mass of a material distributed in the space it occupies
To prevent against heat: the higher the value, the better the ability to prevent heat

Environmental impact

The production process of lime has a significantly lower environmental impact than that of cement. It requires lower firing temperatures and emits less carbon dioxide during the transformation of limestone into quicklime.

Moreover, once applied, lime absorbs carbon dioxide from the air through a process called carbonation, which locks carbon dioxide back into the material—effectively performing a beneficial purification function for both people and the environment.

Durability and self-repair ability

When used properly, lime is a long-lasting material, also thanks to its self-healing ability: small cracks caused by expansion or shrinkage can be repaired by moisture. Moisture dissolves free lime and deposits it into the cracks, where it hardens again through carbonation in contact with air.

Plasticity and elasticity

Thanks to the water content in lime-based mortars, the material is easily moldable, workable, and homogeneous in application, more flexible than cement, lime is less prone to cracking and fessuring.

Breathability

As a porous and vapor-permeable material, it allows transpiration and improves hygrometric comfort.

Aesthetic

Lime provides a soft, nuanced, and textured finish that suits both modern and traditional designs. Lime-based paints take advantage of calcite’s optical properties, particularly birefringence, the splitting of light rays that strike the tiny calcite crystals it contains, in an aesthetically unique yield.

Applications

Masonry

Lime mortars (air-setting or hydraulic) can be used as binders for masonry. Lime is especially suited for the restoration of historic buildings, as its properties are compatible with original construction materials.

Plasters

Lime-based mortar is ideal for wall coatings, with a higher breathability guarantee than plasters. It is compatible with both traditional and innovative bio-based building materials (such as bricks and stone), and can be applied in one or more layers, depending on the substrate.

Lime Paints

Lime, diluted in water to form a milky liquid, has been used since antiquity to finish interior and exterior walls.

By adding inorganic pigments (natural earths and mineral oxides), a wide color palette can be achieved, with delicate yet bright hues.

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