This research focuses on the addition of an ecological, sustainable material to improve the durability of earthen constructions and for use in rehabilitation and restoration processes. Specifically, it studies the mechanical and waterproof performance of an earthen mixture with the addition of a vegetal origin gel (VOG) obtained by extracting the starch contained in rice. This solution increases the durability of the mixture and the behavior against water and improves the mechanical resistance of the system. This study is divided into two parts. First, an experimental phase was carried out in the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya laboratory to design and develop the earthen mixtures stabilized with VOG to obtain an ecological, economical and easily replicable technology that can be transferred to any population group. The second stage consisted of the application of these mixtures and a real intervention in adobe dwellings in the community of Santa Ana Chapitiro, in the State of Michoacan, Mexico. The rehabilitation solutions and dosages were transferred to the residents of the community and applied to local adobe constructions by means of participatory design through an international development cooperation project. Good behavior of the material was found in the early stage.

Slaked lime is traditionally a suitable material for use in construction activities in historic and traditional buildings whose constitutive characteristics demand compatible and appropriate material solutions. Therefore, knowing the physical and mechanical characterization of lime pastes and mortars for use in restoration is considered an important step in the process of scientific development of a material that, in the Mexican case, has lacked scientific rigor in its production, use and commercialization. With this in mind, the present article aims to investigate the characteristics of lime pastes and mortars that have been used in the traditional way and the new limes that exist in the market, offering suitable options for restoration, for which an integrated methodology was used consisting of physical tests such as surface area, electrical resistivity, pulse velocity, colorimetry, and mechanical tests such as compressive strength, giving as a result that “traditional slaked” lime is more likely to deteriorate than powdered lime, which leads us to conclude that powdered hydrated lime has optimal characteristics for restoration activities.

In the restoration field and the cultural heritage, the treatment of colour is very important, being an important factor for the decisions and interventions in historic buildings. However, some of these have not the same recognition and protection by authorities, being really vulnerable, especially against natural phenomena like the earthquakes. After the 2017 Puebla Earthquake, the remainders of the earthen architecture of Jojutla de Juarez were collected to be analysed. Natural clays of the quarries near the town were compared by colorimetry tests with the traditional adobe samples which were collected in the locality. There also were conducted particle size analysis and the Unified Soil Classification System, USCS, to obtain the composition and properties of the soils and the adobe bricks, as well as the additives used, mainly straw as fibre reinforcements of the adobe masonry. One of the factors observed which contributed to change the colorimetric values of the clays was the use of stabilizers like lime, on the other hand, these stabilizers also helped to change the USCS classification of the soils and their cohesive properties.

Restoration works for the cultural heritage in México have commonly used traditional materials, being the slake lime one of the main solutions employed. Nevertheless, other lime products have not been studied or applied in patrimonial works. The main objective of this research was to verify if high purity limes can be used as an alternative for restoration works, knowing that they have a higher powder surface area and consequently great efficiency. Compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests, (UPV), were carried on specimens of slaked lime and high purity limes in pastes and mortars, to compare the values obtained and decide in which restoration works they could be employed. Results showed a better performance of the high purity lime in mortars and slightly better values of the slaked lime for pastes.

Limestone is one of the most ancient construction materials that exist, however it has become obsolete over the last decades, being replaced by industrial materials like cement. It must be considered that not only the construction lime can be used in works, but the limestone industry can provide other products like high purity lies The research about the surface area of high purity lime has verified that it exists an improvement in the adhesion and workability features of the material in comparison with construction lime, besides to be a more economical solution than masonry cement. It is proposed in this document the use of high purity lime in construction works to achieve the benefits previously mentioned. Various samples with different percentages of high purity limes were tested in the laboratory, analysing the surface area changes between them, considering its use for construction purposes and its performance.

La cal ha acompañado a diversas civilizaciones, ha sido esencial en la construcción y, en menor medida, en la alimentación. A pesar del predominio actual del cemento, revalorar la cal resulta fundamental por su bajo costo, su capacidad para responder a múltiples necesidades constructivas y su contribución al confort térmico y la sostenibilidad. Este capítulo se basa en la experiencia profesional adquirida como residente de obra y especialista técnico en el uso de la cal, completada con estudios de laboratorio que confirmaron y precisaron conocimientos empíricos sobre su comportamiento en morteros, suelos y adobes estabilizados. Aunque no puede emplearse estructuralmente debido a su lento fraguado, la cal ofrece una amplia gama de aplicaciones: aplanados, repellados y recubrimientos en muros; estabilización de arcillas para adobes y bloques de tierra; mejora de suelos; y recubrimiento de minerales con propiedades impermeabilizantes y decorativas. Su uso integra tradición y ciencia, favoreciendo construcciones económicas, sostenibles y adaptables a las necesidades actuales.