What fixes architect's reason and sense? Materials study of CTU façade mosaic mortar

0539426 - ÚTAM 2022 RIV US eng C - Conference Paper (international conference)
Bauerová, P. - Kracík Štorkánová, M. - Frankeová, Dita - Slížková, Zuzana - Švarcová, Silvie - Havelcová, Martina - Keppert, M.
What fixes architect's reason and sense? Materials study of CTU façade mosaic mortar.
AIP Conference Proceedings. Vol. 2322. Melville: AIP Publishing, 2021 - (Reiterman, P.), č. článku 020024. ISBN 978-0-7354-4066-1.
[Special Concrete and Composites 2020 /17./. Skalský Dvůr (CZ), 14.10.2020-14.10.2020]
Grant - others:AV ČR(CZ) StrategieAV21/23
Program: StrategieAV
Institutional support: RVO:68378297 ; RVO:61388980 ; RVO:67985891
Keywords : monumental mosaic works * conservation * bedding mortar
OECD category: Materials engineering; Inorganic and nuclear chemistry (UACH-T); Analytical chemistry (USMH-B)
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0041947

A bedding mortar of the stone mosaic Architect´s Reason and Sense situated on the façade of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU in Prague was characterized by microscopic techniques, thermal analysis and gas chromatography. The mortar is based on Portland cement. Polymict concrete sand was used as an aggregate. The mortar was strongly carbonated. The choice of inorganic materials used in the mortar bed as well as the mosaićs fixation on reinforced concrete panels corresponds to a common technique of mosaic installation of the time. However, the presence of 8 wt% of organics consisting predominantly of stearic, palmitic and erucic fatty acids in the mortar was unexpected. It indicates that the mosaic mortar was probably modified with a water repellent based on water-dispersed fatty acid salts to improve durability of the mortar. Such dispersions were available in Czechoslovakia at the time of the mosaićs origin (1970s).

Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0318755