Non hydraulic mortars - The lost recipes

In the past non-hydraulic mortars were common place.  All manner of additives are added to extend and strengthen the mortar.  Mortars were handed down common to the vernacular.

Here is discussion of one:

The artisans of Chettinadu used a special recipe for the buildings that they built.

            The mortar mixture was almost the same as that which was used by Tirumalai
Nayakkar. 

            Sugar cane juice was used instead of cane sugar solution.

            The brickwork was done with this type of mortar. But the walls thus built were
covered with a special type of plaster.

            Again Conch shell lime was used. This was mixed with egg white, sugar cane juice,
nux vomica nuts, and the thin and soft flesh of young unripe coconuts(iLaniir valzukkai).

            This mixture is plastered. After some time, the plaster covering will be seen to 'sweat'.
This is pressed very gently with very high quality soft fine muslin cloth and the water droplets
are absorbed. 

            When the plaster covering is semi-hard, it is polished with a very smooth pumice stone(maakkal).

            When the plaster hardens, it attains a creamy lustre and seems to have a translucence
of its own.

http://www.visvacomplex.com/ancient_building_recipe.html
VIDYALANKARA
DR.S.JAYABARATHI
JayBee
MALAYSIA
Online:16/05/2013