What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to assess how hydrated lime and magnesium oxide stabilize earthen materials against rain damage.

July 23, 2026Open Access

Improving the resilience of earthen heritage to severe rainfall through stabilization with hydrated lime and magnesium oxide

MNMasoud NakhaeiRoma Tre University ARAhmad RabieeRoma Tre University RRRiccardo ReitanoRoma Tre University

Key Points

The aim is to assess how hydrated lime and magnesium oxide stabilize earthen materials against rain damage.
Evaluated adobe specimens from Campo del Pozzo using accelerated rainfall simulation and immersion tests.
Conducted mineralogical and microstructural analyses with X-ray diffraction and FE-SEM-EDS.
Compared various stabilizer dosages, particularly 15 wt% HL and 10 wt% MgO + 10 wt% HL.
Stabilized samples showed significantly enhanced water resistance compared to untreated materials.
The 15 wt% HL sample and the hybrid 10 wt% MgO + 10 wt% HL formulation exhibited the best performance.
Stabilization led to reduced capillary water uptake and increased formation of beneficial mineral phases.

Abstract

Earthen heritage is highly vulnerable to water-induced deterioration, particularly under increasingly intense rainfall events. This study evaluates the effectiveness of hydrated lime (HL) and magnesium oxide-hydrated lime (MgO-HL) stabilization in improving the hydric durability of adobe prepared from earthen material collected at the Campo del Pozzo archeological site, Nazzano, Italy. Adobe specimens with different stabilizer dosages were evaluated through accelerated rainfall simulation, capillary water absorption, and 72 h immersion tests, while mineralogical and microstructural changes were investigated using X-ray diffraction and FE-SEM-EDS analyses. All stabilized samples revealed enhanced resistance to water-induced degradation compared with untreated material, with the best performance achieved by the 15 wt% HL sample and the hybrid formulation containing 10 wt% MgO + 10 wt% HL. These treatments reduced rainfall erosion, limited capillary water uptake, and preserved sample integrity during immersion. Stabilization promoted the formation of C-S-H, C-A-H, and C-A-S-H phases, while Mg-bearing hydrates promoted pore-filling and interparticle cementation. The improved durability is attributed to reduced clay mineral expandability, precipitation of secondary hydrate phases, and aggregation of clay-sized particles. These results demonstrate that HL and MgO-HL stabilization can provide mineralogically compatible strategies for enhancing the durability and resilience of earthen heritage materials.

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