A Study on Historic Mortars for Restorative Applications in Persepolis World Heritage Site: Curing in Site vs Laboratory

Two types of air lime mortars with inclusion of sesame cooking oil were synthesized. The behaviour of mortars in the site conditions and the laboratory can be distinct. Hence, the mortars were cured in two laboratory and natural climatic conditions of and Persepolis World Heritage Site. The mortars were monitored for two years under both conditions and the results demonstrated distinctions in characteristics of mortars, emanating from curing conditions. The air lime mortars cured in the site conditions exhibited increment in durability and hydric properties. In the natural outdoor conditions, some effects of addition of organics to mortars, such as retarding their setting time were less highlighted compared to laboratory curing mortars.