Cockburn Hylime is derived from high quality quicklime, via a grinding and slaking process, at Cockburn’s dedicated hydrated lime plant. It is produced to conform fully with the requirements of AS 1672 ‘Building Limes’.

Hylime incorporates a carefuly measured amount of air-entraining agent to further enhance its ability to impart excellent water retention and plasticity to mortars. Across the normal range of bricks, sands and climate, when using Hylime with Cockburn’s cement products, no other workability aids are necessary.

Hylime will impart a self healing characteristic to mortars known as autogenous healing. This characteristic is due to the carbonation process in the setting and hardening of lime. Fine cracks that can appear in mortar will, if lime is incorporated, expose unreacted calcium hydroxide to the carbon dioxide in the air, thereby allowing reformation of calcium carbonate crystals which ‘grow’ into the cracks. This self healing of lime based mortars has long been recognised as important.

Other workability agents for mortar do not impart this quality. Cockburn Hylime will also enhance the durability of mortars as the high water retention prevents excessive absorption of water from the mortar into masonry units. The longer the water is retained in mortar, the better the cement will cure, thus enhancing the ultimate strength development of the mortar.

Bond strength is also enhanced by the high plasticity imparted by Hylime. This enables the mortar to be squeezed into the cores and pores in each masonry unit thus improving both bond and the seal against the ravages of the weather.