CREATING LIME
The slaking
The quick lime, obtained from the cooking of the stones, is now ready
for slaking.
This is a highly exothermic process, generated by adding water in excess
to the quick lime.
Thanks to the rotation of the slaking machine, the quick lime is constantly
in contact with water; it strongly reacts absorbing plenty of water,
generating steam in an exothermic thermal exchange with temperatures
up to 150°C (300°F). This is a chemical reaction, the hydration
of the oxides, also a physical reaction takes place, changing the state
from solid to a hot milky slurry called calcium hydroxide, or better
known as slaked lime or lime milk.
The more water is added in the slaking process, the more efficient is
the chemical reaction of oxides into hydroxides, a process that will
go on slowly in time, during the long phase of seasoning.
Below, a short video showing the slaking process.
From stone back to stone
A material from the past
The mineral: river limestone
The furnace
- Production
- Fuel
- Firing
The lime cycle
- Slaking
- Seasoning
Formulation and production
Finishes application
Preservation of the architectural
heritage
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