It has been studied the changes in the water repellence and colour of two commercial lime-based mortars when treated with four commercial water repellents, in the context of their possible use in the restoration work on the Tower of Gold ("Torre del Oro") at Seville. The low pressure water absorption test revealed that the treated surfaces were regarded to be sufficiently water repellent with the exception of Tegosivin HL 100-treated Cumen mortar. This treatment was the one that induced in both mortars a significant change in colour: a shift to higher b values (more yellow) and a decrease in lightness.

Authors want to thank to European Social Fund and CSIC the I3P pre-doctoral Grant given to Paula Carmona assigned to Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage of CSIC, and to La Fundación Privada Monte de Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Huelva y Sevilla, the funds given. This work has been also carried out with funds of the project MAT-2003- 08343 of the Education and Science Ministry

30 pags., 5 figs., 6 tabs.

Peer reviewed