Papers

@article{martinez-garcia_can_2024,

title = {Can mussel shell waste optimize cement and air lime mortars hygrothermal performance?},

author = {Carolina Martínez-García and Belén González-Fonteboa and Diego Carro-López and Paulina Faria},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095006182403993X},

doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.138851},

issn = {0950-0618},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-11-01},

urldate = {2026-07-28},

journal = {Construction and Building Materials},

volume = {451},

pages = {138851},

abstract = {Mussel shells used as aggregates for mortars have flaky and irregular particles, which significantly increases the pore volume. This leads to the identification the microstructure of mussel shell mortars as a light and porous composite, which could have good hygrothermal properties. In the present study, the density and thermal properties are assessed on cement and air lime mortars, each with three replacement percentages of replacement of conventional sand by mussel shell sand (25 %, 50 % and 75 %), are evaluated and compared with their respective baselines (0 % replacement). Thermal conductivity measurements are also carried out on different loose fractions of the mussel shell aggregate to understand the behaviour of this material without binder matrix. Finally, adsorption and desorption cycles at 80 % and 50 % relative humidity are carried out on loose aggregate fractions and on the eight mortars. The results are very positive for the mussel shell mortars, as it can be concluded that the use of mussel shell aggregates improves the thermal performance and the potential moisture buffering capacity of both cement and air-lime coating mortars.},

keywords = {Air lime, Bio-based aggregates, Masonry cement, Sorption-desorption isotherms, Thermal conductivity, Transient probe technique},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{martinez-garcia_mussel_2024,

title = {Mussel shell mortars durability: Study of aggregate replacement limit},

author = {Carolina Martínez-García and Belén González-Fonteboa and Diego Carro-López and Fernando Martínez-Abella},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710223024191},

doi = {10.1016/j.jobe.2023.108239},

issn = {2352-7102},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-04-01},

urldate = {2024-04-01},

journal = {Journal of Building Engineering},

volume = {82},

pages = {108239},

abstract = {The knowledge acquired through previous experimental phases with coating mortars with mussel shell aggregates led to conclude that irregular, flaky and hydrophobic particles of the mussel shell and the organic matter content introduce entrapped air and entrained air in the mixes. This phenomenon causes different and opposite effects on the main properties of mortars, which are in some way positive and negative (for durability), consequently, their durability cannot be easily predicted. The present work pretends to analyse the results of different durability tests, such as water vapour permeability, adhesive strength, and weathering cycles to recommend the maximum percentage of mussel shell sand used in coating mortars that guarantee the required lifespan. After an in-depth literature review, it can be said that it is not easy to predict the durability of mortars using mussel shell aggregates. This question has been hardly analysed in the existing literature and the maximum substitution percentage of conventional aggregate that can be replaced is not clear. This work aims to answer this issue by analysing different properties: water vapour permeability, adhesive strength, and weathering cycles. Mussel shell content improves the water vapour permeability of both air lime and cement mortars but worsens the adhesive strength and weathering cycle behaviour. For most applications, 25 % of mussel shell aggregate can be employed, but for some applications, 50 % or even 75 % of mussel shell aggregate is feasible and will avoid the undesirable landfilling of this waste.},

keywords = {Adhesive strength, Air lime, Lime putty, Water vapour, Weathering cycles},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{martinez-garcia_carbonation_2020,

title = {Carbonation evolution of lime putty coatings with mussel shell aggregate},

author = {Carolina Martínez-García and Belén González-Fonteboa and Diego Carro-López and Fernando Martínez-Abella},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095006182032170X},

doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120165},

issn = {0950-0618},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-12-01},

urldate = {2026-08-06},

journal = {Construction and Building Materials},

volume = {264},

pages = {120165},

abstract = {The carbonation process is studied from young ages up to 2 years in mortars with fine mussel shell aggregate. Mussel shell aggregate affects lime mortars due to its shape (angular and flaky) and texture (smooth), and also its microstructure consisting of 2% organic matter in the form of protein and polysaccharides (chitin). Its effect is analysed in pore structure, microstructure by SEM, carbonation by phenolphthalein, and mechanical strength by means of compressive strength and ultrasounds. Conclusions show that the use of mussel shell aggregate delays carbonation at young ages (28 days) while increasing the total carbonated area at longer ages (1 and 2 years). These two different trends can be seen in all of the properties analysed.},

keywords = {Ageing, Air lime, Compressive strength, Pore size distribution, Porosity, Ultrasounds},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{martinez-garcia_impact_2019,

title = {Impact of mussel shell aggregates on air lime mortars. Pore structure and carbonation},

author = {Carolina Martínez-García and Belén González-Fonteboa and Diego Carro-López and Fernando Martínez-Abella},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619301386},

doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.121},

issn = {0959-6526},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-04-01},

urldate = {2026-08-06},

journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},

volume = {215},

pages = {650–668},

abstract = {Galician “Rías”·conditions (extension, water temperature …. ) enable the production of excellent quality cultured mussels. This leads Spain to be the third producer country in the world. Cannery industry (35% of the total cultured mussel production) generates 25000 tons of mussel shell waste per year. Hence, it is necessary to find a sustainable use for this material. The purpose of this work is to verify the most significant changes in the properties of air lime coating mortar when replacing limestone sand with mussel shell sand. Two different air limes have been used: non-aged hydrated commercial lime powder and 10 month-old slaked lime putty. Reference mortars and mortars with mussel shell aggregate as a substitute for limestone aggregate at different rates - 25%, 50% and 75% - have been tested. The behaviour of mortars at the age of one year from kneading has been studied. Studies show that mussel shell increases the pore volume of air lime mortar mixtures, which means a reduction in the mortar's workability and density. The poor paste-aggregate cohesion of mussel shell particles in the air lime matrix worsen the mortar mechanical strength results, which is confirmed by ultrasound test results. Carbonation at this age and hygric behaviour are properties that improve with mussel shell content.},

keywords = {Air content, Air lime, Capillarity, Coating mortar, microstructure, Mussel shell},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}