Abstract:
The evolution of the materials used in Portuguese interior wall coatings since the Roman
occupation, namely the binders, is investigated using XRD in order to build a preliminary
systematic database to contribute to the design and study of compatible products for conservation
and repair. The results show that lime was the main binder until the end of the 18th
century, with gypsum overcoming its use in the 19th century. A relationship is established
between the results and several influencing aspects, namely other cultures, the neighbouring
countries and their traditional construction techniques, the availability of raw materials, the
purposes/techniques of application and the geographical location.
