Construction, civil works and roads

Lime is used to dry out the ground (it helps water evaporate) and to make it more stable, compact and resistant to freezing for clay-rich soil, mainly used for laying roads.

Manufactured from homogeneous mixtures of quicklime and silicate materials, to which water and aluminum powder are then added.

Lime is used to make pressed calcium bricks with sand rich in silicates and water. Calcium activates the pozzolanic reaction between the silicate sand and the clay, creating bricks with great thermal and mechanical properties.

Hydrated calcium is used to produce bituminous mixtures (asphalt) to make them more durable and resistant to tension, preventing them from breaking up. Calcium acts as a mineral filler, preventing the mixture from hardening and stiffening: the main causes of cracks.

Lime is used to manufacture mortar, cement and plaster.  When damp, calcium hydroxide reacts with the CO2 in the air to form calcium carbonate, becoming more resistant over time.  Lime also helps increase the product’s elasticity and breathability, reduce swelling and improve thermal and acoustic insulation properties.  It is also easy to dye and allows for various finishes.

Lime mixed with water is a perfect paint. This is what is known as whitewash. The highly alkaline lime gives this slurry great antibacterial and antifungal properties for treating wood, farm walls, basements, etc. Furthermore, starting with a lime putty yields a much finer material, which we call lime paint, that can be colored.
Lime makes paint waterproof without sacrificing breathability. In manufacturing colorants and dyes, lime acts to accelerate chemical reactions and to remove harmful substances, such as chlorides.