https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06961-2
Regular Article
Experimental investigation and characterization of Alccofine with Bacillus subtilis-modified hydraulic lime mortar
Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
Received:
18
June
2025
Accepted:
14
October
2025
Published online:
23
October
2025
Historical architectural structures can be preserved by modifying lime mortar with the correct materials, other than using it alone. The impact of the binder-to-aggregate (B/Ag) mixture ratio on the fresh and hardened state of hydraulic lime with Alccofine mortar combined with Bacillus subtilis at a density range between 10 and 15 g/L is determined in this work utilizing analytical techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used to find the mortar mix's structural integrity. The growth of higher strength was validated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which validated the XRD and FT-IR analysis. The TGA outcomes confirmed the XRD investigation and demonstrated that weight loss happens at around 800 °C, when calcite decomposes and CO2 is emitted. The presence of calcium silicate hydrate and the production of calcite were further supported by SEM analysis. According to mechanical strength, the mortar's compressive strengths were 3.1 MPa after 7 days and 5.1 MPa after 28 days, while its flexural values were 0.72 MPa after 7 days and 0.92 MPa after 28 days. The lime with Alccofine combined B. subtilis mortar mix's strength improved by 20–25%. The mortar's compressive and flexural strengths grew steadily with the addition of 25% Alccofine and 3% B. subtilis, reaching a maximum of 2.18 and 0.62 MPa, respectively. This study shows that, in both fresh and hardened state properties, hydraulic lime with Alccofine mortar combined with B. subtilis is a viable substitute. The results of this research can be used to develop useful lime mortars for the conservation of ancient masonry structures.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
