When was mortar invented

Mortar is a mixture of sand, a binder such as cement or lime, and water and is applied as a paste which then sets hard. The earliest known mortar was used by the ancient Egyptians and was made from gypsum. This form was essentially a mixture of plaster and sand and was quite soft. Portland cement mortar often known simply as cement mortar is created by mixing Portland cement with sand and water. It was invented in the midth-century, as part of scientific efforts to develop stronger mortars than existed at the time.

It was popularised during the late 19th century, and by it had superseded lime mortar for new construction. The main reason for this was that it sets hard and quickly, allowing a faster pace of construction. Lime mortar is created by mixing sand, slaked lime and water. The earliest known use of lime mortar dates to about BC in Ancient Egypt. The process of making lime mortar is simple. Limestone is burnt in a kiln to form quicklime. In the U. But making lime out of a particular limestone deposit in one region or country will not involve the same techniques as making lime out of a different deposit somewhere else.

The same techniques may be used, but an entirely different product with different behaviors might be produced. Lime has been the main binder in mortars in the western world for thousands of years. Cements have been used in certain areas and for certain types of masonry, but less widely. The reason for that is that when a good lime is made by burning limestone in a certain way , it performs very, very well in masonry walls.

It is plenty strong with the right sand , it is very flexible in fact, it heals its own cracks , and it allows moisture to pass through it easily while repelling water on the exterior. The best limes for mortars are made out of very high-calcium limestone. Perhaps because high-calcium limestone is not universally available, and because it was not widely known before how to control all the variables in the process of making good lime, it was easily outsold by a scientifically formulated product that hardens quickly and could be made virtually anywhere: Portland cement.

It is no wonder that, with the industrial revolution of the 19th century, Portland cement began to be mass-manufactured by a few, and soon was widely depended on.

Bricks are still the most commonly employed unit in building construction. Architecture using bricks is an ever expanding field and both in terms of brick manufacturing technologies and the art of buildings design it seems that the brick still has a long future ahead of it.

It is hard to imagine a more versatile and beautiful building material. Thanks for your comment. Glad you found what you were looking for here about the history of bricks. And I envy you your visit to Pompeii! I'm so glad you found this interesting. I did wonder if anyone would be interested in bricks! This is a very informative hub, Amanda. Thank you for increasing my knowledge in such an interesting way!

Marine Biology. Electrical Engineering. Computer Science. Medical Science. Writing Tutorials. Performing Arts. Visual Arts. Student Life. Vocational Training. Standardized Tests. Online Learning. Social Sciences. Legal Studies. Political Science. Welcome to Owlcation. The Ancient History of Bricks You may think of bricks as a very modern material.

However, the truth is that bricks were invented a very long time ago. Type Use Cement Molded from Portland cement and then shaped to fit the purpose. Terracotta These bricks are actually a form of pottery and are hollow. Lightweight and versatile. Wirecut Extruded These bricks are manufacted by extruding a large slab and than wire cutting each brick out of it. Stock bricks These are often irregular and have an old world charm Handmade The most expensive bricks are handmade because of the time and effort needed to produce them.

London Brick These are made from an oily clay found only in the South East of the UK Clinker Bricks that have been made with a fast burn at high temperatures. Engineering Very strong and water resistant. Related Articles. By Rupert Taylor. By Linda Crampton. By Kelley Marks.