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How to survey and assess fibrous and traditional plasterwork
Investigations and research carried out since the Apollo Theatre London's ceiling collapsed in 2013 have shown that wad ties are susceptible to poor environmental conditions, penetrating dampness, damage from later interventions and additional loading. Baseline surveys inform repairs and management The baseline survey should be used to inform any repairs required and advise future management of the asset. Building pathology, Conservation and restoration Top tips for working with plaster * Identify the type of plasterwork present, for example traditional lime-based plasterwork or fibrous plasterwork. * Establish the method of fixing and support used, and their condition. * Assess condition of surrounding fabric and consider impact of later interventions such as services, alterations and imposed loadings. * In significant buildings, consider a conservative approach that allows retention of as much historic plasterwork as possible. * Encourage contractors and building professionals who do not have conservation experience to attend training courses. * Implement regular inspections informed by a baseline plaster survey.
Journal Article
Development of Clay-Composite Plasters Integrating Industrial Waste
This research investigates the feasibility of developing clay composites using natural materials and incorporating waste by-products suitable for plastering diverse support structures. The study identified a versatile composition suitable for a wide range of support materials and explored the potential of revaluing industrial waste and by-products by reintegrating them into the Circular Economy. The experimental investigation outlines the process of evaluating the influence of different raw materials on the performance of the clay composite. The findings confirm that using limestone sludge and fly ash as additives to clay contributes to reducing axial shrinkage and increasing mechanical strengths, respectively. The optimal percentage of additives for the clay used are identified and provided. Using hydraulic lime as a partial substitute for clay reduces the apparent density of dried clay composites, axial shrinkage, and fissures formation while improving adhesion to the substrate. Introducing dextrin into this mix increases the apparent density of the hardened plaster while keeping axial shrinkage below the maximum threshold indicated by the literature. Mechanical strengths improved, and better compatibility in terms of adhesion to the support was achieved, with composition S3 presenting the best results and a smooth, fissure-free plastered surface after drying.
Journal Article
Canova : sketching in clay
The most celebrated sculptor of the neoclassical age, Antonio Canova (1757-1822) established himself as the preeminent artist of his time with his funerary monuments and meticulously carved marbles on classical themes. Although his idealised and sensual sculptures are widely known, this book is devoted entirely to the brilliantly expressive clay models that he made in preparation for his marble sculptures. Only 65 of his terracotta models survive today. Extraordinarily modern in their boldness, the models retain the touch of the artist's hand and yield a revelatory glimpse into Canova's imaginative and technical process. The authors, with expertise in art history and conservation, examine Canova's techniques for making terracotta models, including how he used clay to develop full-scale models that his assistants copied in marble, and his practice of gifting his models to friends.
Book
Advanced materials engineering in historical gypsum plaster formulations
We show how historical gypsum plaster preparation methods affect the microstructure and the wettability properties of the final stucco materials. We reproduced a traditional Persian recipe (Gach-e Koshteh, ~14th century AD), which involves a continuous mechanical treatment during plaster hydration. These samples were compared with a laboratory-replicated historical recipe from Renaissance Italy (Gesso Sottile, ~15th century AD) and contemporary low-strength plaster. The Koshteh recipe induces the formation of gypsum platelets, which exhibit preferential orientation in the plaster bulk. In contrast, the Italian and low-strength plasters comprise a typical needle-like morphology of gypsum crystals. The platelets in Koshteh expose the more hydrophilic {010} face of gypsum in a much more pronounced manner than needles. Consequently, the Iranian plaster displays enhanced wettability, enabling its direct use for water-based decoration purposes, or as a fine finishing thin layer, without the need of mixing it with a binder material. Contrary, in Sottile, gypsum crystals are left to equilibrate in large excess of water, which promotes the growth of long needles at the expense of smaller crystals. Typically, such needles are several times longer than those found in a control regular plaster. For this crystal habit, the total surface of hydrophilic faces is minimized. Consequently, such plaster layers tend to repel water, which can then be used, e.g., as a substrate for oil-based panel paintings. These findings highlight the development of advanced functional materials, by tuning their microtexture, already during the premodern era.
Journal Article
Using Chalk Instead of Paints in Paper Plaster
Instead of using paint, it is possible to manufacture white paper plaster by adding chalk to its ingredients. The moisture buffer values (MBVs) of paper plaster mixtures with chalk ranged from 1.8 to 2.9. The higher the chalk content was, the lower the MBV of the paper plaster was. Only the mix with the highest chalk content, where the percentage of chalk was 90, had a moisture buffering capacity below 2.0, i.e., not excellent (MBV > 2.0).
Journal Article
Effect of Low- and High-Si/Al Synthetic Zeolites on the Performance of Renovation Plasters
The appropriate selection of renovation plaster properties is essential for ensuring the durability and effectiveness of conservation works. This study focused on the design and characterization of cement-based renovation mortars modified with synthetic zeolites with different Si/Al ratios. It was assumed that high-silica zeolites would provide more favorable mechanical and hygric performance than low-silica types. Owing to their porous structure and pozzolanic reactivity, zeolites proved to be effective additives, enhancing both the microstructure and functionality of the mortars. The modified mixtures exhibited increased total porosity, higher capillary absorption, and improved moisture transport compared with the reference mortar based on CEM I 52.5R. Dynamic vapor sorption tests confirmed that the zeolite-containing mortars achieved Moisture Buffer Values (MBV) above 2.0 g/m2, which corresponds to the “excellent” moisture buffering class. Electrical resistivity measurements further demonstrated the relationship between denser microstructure and enhanced durability. At the frequency of 10 kHz, the electrical resistivity of the reference mortar reached 43,858 Ω·m, while mortars with 15% ZSM-5 and 15% Na-A achieved 62,110 Ω·m and 21,737 Ω·m. These results show that the addition of high-silica zeolite promotes the formation of a denser and more insulating matrix, highlighting the potential of this method for non-destructive quality assessment. The best overall performance was observed in mortars containing the high-silica zeolite ZSM-5. A 35% replacement of cement with ZSM-5 increased compressive strength by 10.5% compared with the reference mortar R (4.3 MPa). Frost resistance tests showed minimal mass loss (0.03% at 15% and 1.79% at 35% replacement), and ZSM-5 mortars also maintained integrity under salt crystallization. These improvements were attributed to the reaction of reactive SiO2 and Al2O3 from the zeolites with Ca(OH)2, leading to the formation of additional C-S-H. A higher Si/Al ratio promoted a denser, fibrous C-S-H morphology, as confirmed by SEM, which explains the improved strength and durability of mortars modified with ZSM-5.
Journal Article