Chemistry of 19th Century Lime Mortar on a tabique Pampango (Wattle-and-Daub) from the Philippines

Jan-Michael Cayme

doi:10.37558/gec.v21i1.1034

Jan-Michael Cayme Chemistry Department De La Salle University, Manila Philippines

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v21i1.1034

Keywords: wattle-and-daub, tabique Pampango, XRF, XRD, FTIR, TGA, sieve analysis, Philippines

Abstract

he chemical characterization of a thick lime mortar coating on a wall construction method in the Philippines called tabique Pampango, or wattle-and-daub method, is reported in this study. The daub material from a 19th century Spanish Colonial Period church convent in Loboc, Bohol, was analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and sieve analysis. These analyses demonstrate that the daub material comprises a largely calcitic binder with clay minerals naturally present in the raw material or clayey soils added intentionally. The presence of clay minerals made the binder hydraulic or hardened through added water. Fine-sized aggregates are abundant in the daub material, making it suitable for non-load bearing applications. This study provided a chemical basis on the construction techniques employed during the colonial period in the Philippines that is useful for advancing conservation work and local historical knowledge.

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Author Biography

Jan-Michael Cayme, Chemistry Department De La Salle University, Manila Philippines

Jan Michael C. Cayme is an assistant professorial lecturer at the Chemistry Department of the De La Salle University, Manila, a licensed chemist in the Philippines, holder of a Masters’ Degree in Chemistry and completing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He has several peer-reviewed publications in local and international scientific journals on the chemical analysis of colonial period-built materials in the Philippines. As a faculty member of the Chemistry Department at the De La Salle University, Manila, and The Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas, he initiated the teaching of advanced analytical chemistry techniques with a focus on cultural heritage for chemistry majors and a general scientific approach to chemistry and cultural heritage for non-science majors. He is also a former field cultural researcher of the Institute of Philippine Culture at the Ateneo de Manila University, documenting the architectural styles and history of pre-World War 2 structures in Metro Manila.

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