CAPABILITY FOR IMPERMEABILIZATION OF WALL RENDERS

TEST METHOD BASED ON THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE

Teresa Diaz Gonçalves*

* National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC), Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract: In this paper, the experimental set of tests that was carried out at LNEC on a new
resistive test method is described and its adequacy to evaluate the capability for
impermeabilization of wall renders is analysed. Other relevant conclusions are also presented
about the influence of the interface between different mortar coats on mass transfer through wall
renders and about the influence of capillary action and of wind pressure on rain penetration
through the current surface of wall renders.
Keywords: renders, impermeabilization

1 INTRODUCTION
The capability for impermeabilization, in non-cracked zone, of wall renders (their capability for
limiting the quantity of rain water that reaches the support and for delaying the support
moistening) is nowadays evaluated by resorting to the experimental determination of the water
sorption coefficient due to capillary action, of the water absorption under pressure and of the
water vapour permeability of the material [1]. These characteristics correspond to the three main
physical mechanisms of mass transfer in porous materials [2, 3]. This evaluation is, however,
rather inaccurate mainly because:
• It is based on values of three distinct characteristics that contribute in different ways to the
capability for impermeabilization
• It is difficult to establish a relation between these values and the behaviour of renders in real
conditions, namely due to the methods used in the tests (test specimens prepared in metallic
non-absorbing moulds, with different thickness and made in only one coat)
Therefore, an integrated method, in which conditions as close as possible to reality are created,
was developed at LNEC in order to evaluate, with only one test, the capability for
impermeabilization of wall renders [4].

2 EQUIPMENT
An apparatus (figure 1) that makes possible to record the variation, along the time, of the
electrical tension, inside specific mortar test specimens, is used. It is based on the measurement
of the electrical resistance between the electrodes of metallic sensors that are inserted in mortar
test specimens (figure 1). The apparatus includes a transducer modulus that injects, in the
sensors, a high frequency alternating current, presenting on the way out an electrical tension that
is proportional to the electrical resistance between electrodes. It also includes a commutation
modulus, commanded by microchip that is able to connect sequentially the sensors to the
apparatus, until a maximum of fifteen sensors, and also to connect the apparatus to a unit of data
acquisition (data logger). The prototype used for the experimental set of tests described bellow
was designed and built at LNEC (report 56/92-GEET of LNEC [5]).
Mortar test specimens are obtained by applying one or more mortar coats over fibro-cement
plates (fibro-cement is often used in laboratorial work to simulate moulded concrete) with facial
dimensions of 150 mm x 300 mm. The small size of the plates leads one to believe that the
mortar will not crack by shrinkage. Metallic sensors (34 mm x 11 mm x 2 mm) are positioned
between the fibro-cement plate and the mortar.
 Figure 1 - Moisture detecting apparatus (left) and metallic sensors (right)

3 TEST METHOD
Each test consists of soaking the test specimens and then waiting for them to dry again. This
soaking/drying cycles simulate the conditions to which external wall renders are exposed, due to
the rain. In the meantime, the electrical tension is measured at several points inside each test
specimen. A graph, similar to the one shown in figure 5 where instant zero corresponds to
soaking of the corresponding test specimen, is obtained for each sensor. Test stops when all the
electrical tension values stabilise again.

When defining soaking and drying conditions of the test specimens (figure 2), we tried to
simulate the most severe situation to which real renders might be exposed:
• soaking by the simultaneous action of wind and rain - simulated by a water lamina acting
over test specimens (placed horizontally) surface. Thickness of the water lamina corresponds
to wind pressure.
• drying without wind - simulated by leaving the test specimens, which are now placed
vertically, to dry naturally. Vertical position of test specimens allows namely a better
performance (closer to reality) of eventual hydrofuge products.

Figure 2 - Soaking (left) and drying (rigth) of test specimens

Two different kind of soaking conditions where systematically used in tests:

• water lamina of 1 cm thickness, acting during ½ hour over test specimens surface
• water lamina of 5 cm thickness, acting during 5 hours over test specimens surface
All the tests are carried out in conditioned environment (23±2 oC and 50±5 % HR), at LNEC
Wall Renders Test Laboratory. Influence of thermo-higrometric conditions is therefore
eliminated.
4 EXPERIMENTAL SET OF TESTS
In the experimental set of tests, four kinds of mineral renders were tested:
• A traditional mineral render of Portland cement, lime and river sand. It was made in two
coats with volumetric composition of 1:1:6 and 1:2:9, each coat with 15 mm thickness.
Mortar was always applied manually after wetting its support - TRADITIONAL RENDER
• A pre-dosed white coloured mineral render. It was applied in a single coat of 20 mm
thickness with a projection machine - WHITE RENDER
• A pre-dosed non-coloured mineral render from a different factory. It was also applied in a
single 20 mm thick coat with a projection machine - GREY RENDER 1
• The same non-coloured pre-dosed mineral render, now applied in two coats, each one being
10 mm thick, with the projection machine - GREY RENDER 2. Let us not forget that GREY
RENDER is a single coat product. Its application in two coats was made in order to evaluate
how could the interface between mortar coats influence mass transfer trough renders.

Table 1 - Characteristics of mortars

Water vapour
Volumic mass Capilarity Permeability under permeability - air
Mortar of paste coefficient pressure - water sorbed layer thickness
(kg/m3) (kg/m2/h1/2) in 24 hours (cm3) equivalent to
2 cm of mortar (m)
WHITE RENDER 1764 1.45 2.8 0.24
GREY RENDER 1868 2.51 7.4 0.22
TRADITIONAL 1:1:6 1988 18.44 93.3 0.17
TRADITIONAL 1:2:9 1948 20.38 151.2 0.15

Four sensors were placed in each test specimen (figure 1) but only three where effectively used
(the fourth was a security reserve). Lateral surface of test specimens was sealed with a mixture
of 50% wax and pitch. Two test specimens of each kind of render where tested. The first group
to be tested simultaneously included one test specimen of each kind - GROUP A. The second -
GROUP B - also included one test specimen of each kind.

5 RESULTS OBTAINED
This paper shows only a very reduced part of the results obtained due to the large space that
would be necessary and, mainly, due to the defective legibility of black and white graphs that
contain a large number of lines. We recommend the examination, during the symposium, of the
corresponding poster in which higher quantity of colour graphs will be included. Any additional
information can be asked directly to the author (see contact point at the end of this paper).

Test results appear under the form of graphs. Figures 3 and 4 show as an illustrative example the
results of the third test carried out over Group A test specimens (soaking by 1 cm lamina of
water acting during ½ hour over test specimens surface). Analysis of results was made visually
but also analytically resorting to three specifically defined parameters (figure 5):

• soaking delay - time (hours) from the instant (zero) when soaking of the test specimens was
carried out and the instant when sensors first detect moisture inside mortar (we considered
that this happens when electrical tension falls below 95% of its initial value).
• test duration - time (hours) from the instant when sensors first detect moisture and the instant
when, during the drying process, electrical tension reaches again 95% of its initial value.
• soaking intensity - value (mV x hour) of area A. This parameter expresses both the quantity
 of moisture reaching support and the time it remains there. We consider that this parameter is
the one that, alone, can better express numerically the results of tests.

Electrical Tension (mV)

400 Traditional
Render
300 Grey
Render 1
200 White
Render
100 Grey
Render 2
0
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (hours)

Figure 3 - Example of a soaking/drying test graphic results (third test) - soaking

Electrical Tension (mV)

400 Traditional
Render

300 Grey
Render 1
200 White
Render
100 Grey
Render 2
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time (hours)

Figure 4 - Example of a soaking/drying test graphic results (third test) - drying

Electrical
Electrical
tension (mV)
Tension
max (mV)
0.95 max

soaking
intensity

soaking test duration Time (hours)

delay

Figure 5 - Typical soaking/drying graphic obtained for a single sensor

Figure 6 shows the results obtained for all the tests. Each bullet corresponds to the mean value
of the electrical tension obtained, for all the sensors of the corresponding test specimen, in a
single test of this test specimen.
 1000

1200

60.0
1000

50.0
"Soaking intensity" (mV.h)
"Test Duration" (h)
"Soaking delay" (h)

40.0
100

800

30.0
600

20.0
400
10

10.0
200

0.0
1

1/2 h - 1 cm

1/2 h - 5 cm

5 h - 1 cm

5 h - 5 cm
1/2 h -1 cm

1/2 h -5 cm

5 h -1 cm

5 h -5 cm

1/2 h -1 cm

1/2 h -5 cm

5 h -1 cm

5 h -5 cm
1200
1000
800
600
400
2000 Render
Tradicional Grey Render 1 White Render Grey Render 2
1/2 h -1 cm 1/2 h -5 cm 5 h -1 cm 5 h -5 cm

Figure 6 - Soaking delay (left), test duration (centre) and soaking intensity (right)

6 ANALISYS OF RESULTS
6.1 Evolution of the capability for impermeabilization
Hydration increases the volume of material in solid state and, as it progresses, mortars
compactness rises because the volume initially occupied with water is replaced by the solid
hydrates [6]. Hydraulic renders however do not often reach complete hydration of the hydraulic
binder with the water used for its manufacture because part of this water is rapidly absorbed by
the porous support or evaporates into the environment. Moisture that later crosses renders breaks
out new hydration reactions, increasing renders compactness.

We noticed that during the first (three) tests, successively carried out over the same test
specimens, the values of “soaking intensity” and of “test duration” decrease, even when tests
were identical. The explanation for this seams to be the increase of renders capability for
impermeabilization caused by the water used to soak test specimens. This effect was more
important in Traditional Render test specimens but also visible in the Grey Render 1 test
specimens. In the Grey Render 2 test specimens this effect was not so obvious due to the
interface influence in moisture transfer (see 6.2). In the White Render test specimens this effect
was not visible.

This conclusion reinforces the initial observation about the lack of representativity of traditional
tests. This results from the fact that these tests are carried out over 28 days-age test specimens
(kept in laboratorial environment since its manufacture) that are soaked only once (during the
test itself). The comparison between different renders might, therefore, be distorted since the
initial deficiency of hydration is as more important as lower is the water retention power of the
mortar. Commonly, non-traditional (factory made) renders have a better water retention power
(due to the use of different kinds of additives and to the smaller size of grains) because they
have to maintain workability during the projection operations and also because they must
permit its application without the previous soaking of support. Non-traditional renders are,
therefore, less affected by the desiccative effects of the porous support and of environment.

6.2 Influence of the interface between mortar coats

Interface between different mortar coats seems to introduce an hydric resistance to moisture
transfer [7] and to contribute to a better capability for impermeabilization of renders. In fact, the
render made in two coats (Grey Render 2) had always lower values of “soaking intensity” and
of “test duration” (figures 6 and 8). This indicates that a lower quantity of moisture reaches the
support. This render had also higher values of “soaking delay” (figures 6 and 7). This indicates
that moisture reaches the support latter than if the render was made in only one coat.
Electrical Tension (mV)

400
Grey
Render 1
300

200
Grey
100 Render 2

0
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (hours)

Figure 7 - Comparison between Grey Render 1 and Grey Render 2 during soaking phase
Electrical Tension (mV)

400
Grey
Render 1
300

200
Grey
100 Render 2

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time (hours)

Figure 8 - Comparison between Grey Render 1 and Grey Render 2 during drying phase

A few SEM observations permitted, on the other hand, to distinguish easily a physic
discontinuity between the two mortar coats of GREY RENDER 2 test specimens. This
discontinuity had about 1.3 to 4.3 µm in sample C and was also visible, even if of a smaller
dimension, in sample A (figure 9).
 Figure 9 - SEM observations of Grey Render 2 Specimen A

6.3 Effect of wind pressure

The comparison between results obtained with water pressures of 1 cm and of 5 cm made it
possible to reach some conclusions about the effect of wind pressure in the penetration of
moisture through renders mass. On the other hand, the comparison between the results obtained
with test specimen soaking duration of ½ hour and 5 hours, made it possible to evaluate the
importance of capillary action.

The results obtained (figure 6) seem to indicate that moisture transfer through renders is not
significantly affected by the difference of pressure (1 cm or 5 cm lamina of water). On the
contrary, the duration of soaking of test specimens (1/2 hour and 5 hours) seems to have an
important effect on test results. For example, White Render only showed a decrease of the
electrical tension measured by some of its sensors in tests with a soaking duration of 5 hours
(figure 10) and this variation did not depend on the water pressure used.
Electrical Tension (mV)

400
1/2 hour
300

200

100 5 hours

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time (hours)

Figure 10 - Graphic results of White Render tests

6.4 Adequacy of tests for evaluating the capability for impermeabilization

A preliminary set of tests, comprising laboratory tests and also external tests on test walls
submitted to the real action of rain, had already been carried out over some renders with known
and very distinct capability for impermeabilization. These preliminary actions gave positive
indications on repeatability and liability of this method [8]. The new tests presented in this paper
seem to reinforce that conclusion, when comparing the results obtained (figure 6) with the ones
obtained in the traditional tests (table 1).
7 CONCLUSIONS
The experimental results obtained until now point to the utility of this new test when assessing
the capability for impermeabilization of wall renders. Additionally, reference can be made to
some advantages of this new test:
• It makes possible to evaluate renders capability for impermeabilization with only one test.
• This evaluation is more realistic because, on the one hand, wind and rain are better simulated
and, on the other hand, test specimens are closer to the real conditions of renders: there is no
influence of a non-absorbing metallic mould, a porous support similar to the real one can be
used, the surface/volume relation is closer to reality and thickness and number of coats can be
similar to the ones of real renders.
• It makes possible to analyse the influence of renders thickness and number of coats on their
capability for impermeabilization.
• It may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of superficial curative treatments.
• It makes possible to evaluate the influence of wind pressure and rainfall duration.
• It may be adapted for measurements on external wall renders submitted to real rain.

Some relevant conclusions about moisture transfer through renders could also be drawn from the
experimental results obtained:
• Renders capability for impermeabilization may increase due to the moisture that, later,
penetrates into their mass. This effect is as more significant as lower is the water retention
power of the fresh mortar.
• Interface between mortar coats seems to introduce an hydric resistance to moisture transfer
and, therefore, to contribute to a better capability for impermeabilization.
• Wind pressure does not seem to have a significant effect on moisture penetration through
renders surface.

REFERENCES

1 Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB), Certification CSTB des enduits monocouches
d’impermeabilization. Modalités d’essais. Cahiers du CSTB (341), Cahier 2669-4. Paris, CSTB, 1993

2 Bear, J., Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media, New York, Elsevier Verlag, 1972.

3 Künzel, H., Simultaneous Heat and Moisture Transfer in Building Components, Stuttgart, IBR Verlag, 1995

4 Gonçalves, Teresa Diaz, Capability for Impermeabilization of Mineral Renders (in Portuguese), Lisbon,
Superior Technical Institute of the Technical University of Lisbon, 1997

5 Palma, João, Resistive humidity detector apparatus (in Portuguese). Report 56/92-GEEt. Lisbon, National
Laboratory of Civil Engineering, 1992

6 Coutinho, Sousa; Gonçalves, Arlindo, Manufacturing and Properties of Concrete (in Portuguese), vol. 3,
Lisbon, National Laboratory of Civil Engeneering, 1994

7 Freitas, Vasco Peixoto de, Moisture transfer in building walls. Analysis of the effect of the interface (in
Portuguese), Oporto, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Oporto, 1992.

8 Gonçalves, Teresa Diaz (et al.), Evaluation of the capability for impermeabilization of wall renders.
International Symposium on Moisture Problems in Building Walls, Oporto, Faculty of Engineering of the University
of Oporto, 1995, “edited by Vasco Peixoto de Freitas and Vitor Abrantes”, p. 461-470.

Contact point: Teresa Diaz Gonçalves, National Laboratory of Civil Engeneering (LNEC), Buildings Department,
Av. do Brasil 101, 1799 Lisboa Codex, Portugal.
Tel. +351 1-8482132, Fax: +351 1-8463713, Email: teresag@lnec.pt.