Circular Building Process: Reuse of Insulators from Construction and Demolition Waste to Produce Lime Mortars

: This research aims to revalue the possibilities presented by lime mortars for use in renovation and as cladding material on facades. The study focuses on analyzing the technical feasibility of lime mortars with the incorporation of residues from three types of thermal insulation materials: expanded polystyrene with graphite especially suitable for use on facades; expanded polystyrene for use indoors; and insulating mineral wool. The incorporation of these construction and demolition residues makes it possible to improve several technical performance aspects of lime mortars, and to incorporate circular economy criteria in the manufacturing process of these materials. The results showed that the incorporation of mineral wool improves the mechanical resistance to the bending of mortars, increases their durability against freeze–thaw cycles and salt crystallization, and reduces the ﬁnal shrinkage of mortars. For their part, mortars with the addition of polystyrene-insulating residues reduce mechanical resistance, but also reduce thermal conductivity, and are lighter, which is why they are shown as a possible alternative for use in precast.


Introduction
Currently, in the European Union, approximately 40% of total energy consumption is caused by residential buildings, tertiary buildings, shops, offices, and other auxiliary buildings [1]. In Spain, this percentage is reduced to 27.7% due to the better climatic conditions offered by being located in southern Europe [2]. However, this is still a high, and not inconsiderable percentage, meaning that every day more researchers seek to take action to evolve towards a more sustainable building sector [3]. If we continue to limit the problem to Spain, the gradual aging of the building stock increasingly forces autonomous governments to implement energy rehabilitation policies [4]. In Spain alone, more than half of the 25.7 million existing homes and buildings-according to the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA) [5]-were built before the first energy regulation was approved [6], NBE-CT 79 [7]. In this sense, any action aimed at reducing energy consumption, the emission of greenhouse gases, the environmental impact of buildings, and the excessive consumption of natural resources in construction [8][9][10], is in line with the Goals for Sustainable Development (SDG) set by the United Nations [11]. More specifically, this work is directly linked to SDGs 11 and 12: "Sustainable Cities and Communities" and "Responsible Production and Consumption", although it is a cross-sectional investigation shared with other goals set for 2030.
Together with the problem of high energy consumption in buildings, the European continent faces the challenge of carrying out adequate management of the construction and demolition waste (CDW) that is generated annually [12], and that represents between Table 1. Technical characteristics of NHL 5 hydraulic lime [44].

Start of Setting (min)
Fineness Blaine (cm 2 /g) The aggregate used to make the mortars was river natural sand. Figure 1 shows the granulometry of the sands used in this investigation. The granulometric curve was obtained using the dried aggregate and a series of standardized sieves according to UNE-EN 933-2 with a mesh opening between 4.000 and 0.063 mm [45]. It was sought to obtain a continuous granulometry in order to improve the compactness of hardened lime mortars [46]. façades, expanded polystyrene for interior use, and mineral wool) in two different proportions each.

Materials and Methods
This section describes the materials used for the preparation of lime mortars, as well as the dosages used, and the experimental campaign carried out.

Materials Employed
For this work, the following raw materials were used in the preparation of mortars: hydraulic lime, natural aggregate (NA), expanded polystyrene insulation with graphite for use in facades (EPS-F), expanded polystyrene insulation for indoor use (EPS-I), mineral wool insulation (MW), and water.

Hydraulic Lime
The conglomerate material chosen in this investigation was hydraulic lime. This material has the property of being able to set and harden with water, thanks to its composition generally made up of Ca(OH)2, calcium silicates, and calcium aluminates [41]. More specifically, a hydraulic lime of the NHL-5 type was used, following the classification included in the UNE-EN 459-1: 2002 standard [42].
The technical characteristics of this raw material according to the manufacturer Chaux de Saint-Astier are shown in Table 1. Furthermore, according to the procedure included in the UNE 80103: 2013 [43] standard, it was determined that the real density of the lime used in this study would be 2750 kg/m 3 . The aggregate used to make the mortars was river natural sand. Figure 1 shows the granulometry of the sands used in this investigation. The granulometric curve was obtained using the dried aggregate and a series of standardized sieves according to UNE-EN 933-2 with a mesh opening between 4.000 and 0.063 mm [45]. It was sought to obtain a continuous granulometry in order to improve the compactness of hardened lime mortars [46].  On the other hand, Table 2 shows the results of the physical characterization of the sands used, following the recommendations of the UNE-EN 13139: 2002 standard [48]. In this work, three different types of insulation materials from construction and demolition waste were used: expanded polystyrene insulation with graphite for use on facades (EPS-F); expanded polystyrene insulation for indoor use (EPS-I); and mineral wool insulation (MW), as shown in Figure 2. On the other hand, Table 2 shows the results of the physical characterization of the sands used, following the recommendations of the UNE-EN 13139: 2002 standard [48]. In this work, three different types of insulation materials from construction and demolition waste were used: expanded polystyrene insulation with graphite for use on facades (EPS-F); expanded polystyrene insulation for indoor use (EPS-I); and mineral wool insulation (MW), as shown in Figure 2. These wastes were obtained from a recycling plant located in El Molar (Madrid, Spain) and had to be collected and separated manually. In the case of polystyrene insulators, they were prepared manually according to the procedure used in other investigations to break them down into small spheres that could be added during the manufacture of mortars [53,54]. For its part, the mineral wool insulation was manually shredded and separated into fibers of 12 mm length, following the recommendations found in the literature [55,56]. Its most relevant characteristics are collected in Table 3.  These wastes were obtained from a recycling plant located in El Molar (Madrid, Spain) and had to be collected and separated manually. In the case of polystyrene insulators, they were prepared manually according to the procedure used in other investigations to break them down into small spheres that could be added during the manufacture of mortars [53,54]. For its part, the mineral wool insulation was manually shredded and separated into fibers of 12 mm length, following the recommendations found in the literature [55,56]. Its most relevant characteristics are collected in Table 3. Safe drinking water from the Canal de Isabel II of the Community of Madrid (Spain) was used to mix the different mortar samples. This water has been used previously in research work [57], due to its good characteristics for making mortars. Its main properties Buildings 2022, 12, 220 5 of 25 include its soft hardness (25 mg CaCO 3 /L) and neutral pH between 7 and 8 recommended to avoid setting alterations [58].

Dosages Used
In this work, we intended to study the effect that the incorporation of thermal insulation materials in different proportions has on lime mortars, analyzing their physicalmechanical properties for their use as construction material. For this, two different proportions of insulating waste of each type and a single lime/aggregate ratio were incorporated. The mixing process was carried out following the recommendations of the UNE-EN 196-1 [59] standard, with the help of an IBERTEST planetary mixer model IB32-040V01, and always following the same techniques and methods. The following nomenclature was defined for the different batches: LM-Type-Quantity where LM refers to the type of material used, lime mortars with a cement/aggregate ratio 1:3; Type refers to the insulation material incorporated in the manufacturing, which can be expanded polystyrene recommended for use on facades (EPS-F), expanded polystyrene for interior use (EPS-I), mineral wool (MW) or reference without insulation (REF); and finally, Quantity indicates the incorporated mass in grams of each type of waste, which can be 2.5 or 4.5 g. Table 4 shows the different proportions of each material used to make the lime mortars used in this research. As shown in Table 4, the water content was set experimentally following the indications of the UNE-EN 1015-3:2000/A2:2007 [60] standard, until achieving a workable consistency corresponding to a diameter of the 150 ± 10 mm mortar cake in the flow table workability. It can also be seen that mortars with higher incorporation of insulating residue (4.5 g) required a higher content of mixing water, which had a negative influence on the mechanical resistance of these materials [61]. Finally, it should be noted that the different samples produced were cured in a humid chamber for 28 days, at a temperature of 22 ± 2 • C and relative humidity of 95% [62].

Experimental Study
The experimental program included in this research work includes a mechanical, physical, and durability characterization of lime mortars with the incorporation of three types of thermal insulation materials.
Regarding the mechanical characterization, flexural and compression failure tests were carried out on standardized 4 × 4 × 16 cm RILEM specimens, following the recommendations of the UNE-EN 1015-11:2000/A1:2007 standard [63]. The results were obtained with the help of a model AUTETEST 200-10SW press, and the fractography derived from the breakage of the specimens in the bending test was analyzed. For its part, the physical characterization included the performance of five tests. Shore D surface hardness was used to determine the wear resistance of mortars and the possibility of being scratched on their surface: for this we used a Shore D durometer and 4 × 4 × 16 cm test tubes. We also tested the adhesion of lime mortars made on ceramic surfaces, for which the recommendations of the UNE-EN 1015-2:1999/A1:2007 [64] standard were followed, applying a mortar mass of 10 ± 1 mm thick on a previously moistened ceramic scraper and using direct traction equipment with cylindrical specimens with a diameter of 50 mm. Next, we assessed water absorption by capillarity in mortars, following the recommendations of the UNE-EN 1015-18 [65] standard, and the apparent density of mortars in the hardened state, using a precision balance with three significant figures and 4 × 4 × 16 cm test tubes. Finally, we assessed the coefficient of thermal conductivity of mortars, determined by the heat flow meter method and using Fourier's Law.
Finally, the durability tests that were carried out were: resistance to freeze-thaw cycles; salt crystallization; and shrinkage measurement. In the first two, freezing and crystallization of salts, the standards UNE-EN 12371 [66] and UNE-EN 12370 [67] were adapted for natural stone, respectively, using 4 × 4 × 16 cm series of test tubes and taking for each sample subjected to cycles, another equivalent without accelerated aging. The freeze-thaw cycles were completed 25 times (6 h freezing at −12 • C and 18 h saturation in water at 20 • C) and the salt crystallization cycles were completed 15 times (2 h in a solution of sodium sulfate decahydrate saturated with water), with 14% at 22 • C (drying in an oven for 16 h at 105 • C and cooling at 22 • C for 6 h). On the other hand, the shrinkage test was carried out on 25 × 25 × 287 mm specimens for 180 days following the UNE 80-112-89 standard [68].
The statistical analysis of the results was carried out with the statistical package IBM SPSS Statistics v25 ©. To know if the results obtained for each property analyzed between the different types of lime mortar produced differed statistically significantly, an analysis was used employing comparison tests. To carry out the complimentary discussion of the results, six samples of each type of mortar were used for each test.
In the discussion of the physical and mechanical properties, mean comparison tests were carried out for independent samples, previously analyzing the fulfillment of the necessary assumptions for the application of parametric tests: (a) normality, (b) homoscedasticity, and (c) independence [69,70]. In the cases in which these assumptions are verified, the Student's t-test (for two independent samples) or ANOVA (for more than two independent samples) were used. In addition, to understand the comparisons within each group when there were more than two independent samples, the Dunn-Bonferroni test was used [70]. On the other hand, if the necessary assumptions for the parametric tests (Student's t-test or ANOVA) were not fulfilled, the analysis was carried out using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests (for two independent samples), and Kruskal-Wallis (for more than two independent samples).
Finally, in the statistical discussion corresponding to the durability tests (resistance to frost and salt crystallization), comparison tests of related samples were used, as they are measurements carried out on the same type of material before and after being subjected to accelerated aging cycles. For this reason, the Student's t-test was used for related samples in cases where the necessary assumptions were met for the performance of parametric tests, and, otherwise, the non-parametric test for Wilcoxon related samples was used [69].

Results
Next, the results obtained for the different tests of mechanical, physical, and durability characterization of the studied mortars are presented.

Mechanical Characterization Tests
Hardened mortars are subjected to a great variety of mechanical stresses depending on their location on site. They experience compression forces when used as joining elements in masonry walls, and they also experience stresses and deformations inherent to the con-struction system of which they are a part, such as the case of lime mortars used as coatings that may experience deformations as a consequence of mechanical bending stresses [71].

Flexural Strength
The mechanical resistance to bending was determined in standard 4 × 4 × 16 cm specimens that were filled with the mortar in two approximately equal layers, homogenizing each layer of the mixture with 25 strokes in the compactor following the UNE-EN 1015-11:2000/A1:2007 standard [63]. This test is of great relevance for lime mortars that are going to be used in restoration works as coatings, since the ability to withstand deformations without cracks appearing on their surface is greatly important [72]. To carry out the test, a press model AUTETEST 200-10SW was used with a uniform application of the load at a speed between 10-50 N/s. Figure 3 shows the test equipment and the results obtained for flexural strength in each of the mortars studied in this investigation.
ity characterization of the studied mortars are presented.

Mechanical Characterization Tests
Hardened mortars are subjected to a great variety of mechanical stresses depending on their location on site. They experience compression forces when used as joining elements in masonry walls, and they also experience stresses and deformations inherent to the construction system of which they are a part, such as the case of lime mortars used as coatings that may experience deformations as a consequence of mechanical bending stresses [71].

Flexural Strength
The mechanical resistance to bending was determined in standard 4 × 4 × 16 cm specimens that were filled with the mortar in two approximately equal layers, homogenizing each layer of the mixture with 25 strokes in the compactor following the UNE-EN 1015-11:2000/A1:2007 standard [63]. This test is of great relevance for lime mortars that are going to be used in restoration works as coatings, since the ability to withstand deformations without cracks appearing on their surface is greatly important [72]. To carry out the test, a press model AUTETEST 200-10SW was used with a uniform application of the load at a speed between 10-50 N/s. Figure 3 shows the test equipment and the results obtained for flexural strength in each of the mortars studied in this investigation.  Table 5 shows the results of the statistical discussion of flexural strength by groups of mortars. First, the means and standard deviations (SD) are reflected, together with the confidence interval for the mean with a significance level of 95%. The second part of Table  5 shows the comparison of means between materials and their statistical significance.   Table 5 shows the results of the statistical discussion of flexural strength by groups of mortars. First, the means and standard deviations (SD) are reflected, together with the confidence interval for the mean with a significance level of 95%. The second part of Table 5 shows the comparison of means between materials and their statistical significance. According to the results obtained and the statistical analysis carried out, it can be seen that the lime mortars made with mineral wool fibers were the ones with the highest flexural strengths (1.0456 MPa on average). This result is because the incorporation of this insulating residue is similar to the effect caused by the incorporation of reinforcing fibers in masonry mortars [73]. On the other hand, mortars reinforced with polystyrene fibers were the ones that obtained the worst resistance, the flexural resistance of mortars that incorporated EPS-F being worse, mainly due to the greater particle diameter of this recycled material. In addition, in the case of mortars that incorporated polystyrene residues, it can be seen in Figure 4 that after the test tubes broke there was no good cohesion between the mortar matrix and the recycled EPS insulation spheres. In the comparison of means for flexural strength using the Kruskal-Wallis test, statistical significance was observed with a level of confidence higher than 95% between the mortars made with MW and the mortars with EPS-F and EPS-I.
According to the results obtained and the statistical analysis carried out, it can be seen that the lime mortars made with mineral wool fibers were the ones with the highest flexural strengths (1.0456 MPa on average). This result is because the incorporation of this insulating residue is similar to the effect caused by the incorporation of reinforcing fibers in masonry mortars [73]. On the other hand, mortars reinforced with polystyrene fibers were the ones that obtained the worst resistance, the flexural resistance of mortars that incorporated EPS-F being worse, mainly due to the greater particle diameter of this recycled material. In addition, in the case of mortars that incorporated polystyrene residues, it can be seen in Figure 4 that after the test tubes broke there was no good cohesion between the mortar matrix and the recycled EPS insulation spheres. In the comparison of means for flexural strength using the Kruskal-Wallis test, statistical significance was observed with a level of confidence higher than 95% between the mortars made with MW and the mortars with EPS-F and EPS-I.
To complete the discussion of these results, a comparison has been made in Table 6 between the flexural strength means of the test tubes that incorporated 2.5 g of insulating residue, and those that incorporated 4.5 g.  It can be seen in the results shown in Table 6 that in all the test tubes with the incorporation of 2.5 g of thermal insulation, higher bending strengths were obtained, with the increase in the content of residue incorporated in the matrix impairing this property. However, in no case were these results statistically significant. To complete the discussion of these results, a comparison has been made in Table 6 between the flexural strength means of the test tubes that incorporated 2.5 g of insulating residue, and those that incorporated 4.5 g. It can be seen in the results shown in Table 6 that in all the test tubes with the incorporation of 2.5 g of thermal insulation, higher bending strengths were obtained, with the increase in the content of residue incorporated in the matrix impairing this property. However, in no case were these results statistically significant.

Compressive Strength
Compressive strength is one of the most decisive parameters when selecting a type of mortar for application on-site. This property depends on the internal cohesion of the mortar and reflects its ability to support loads without disintegrating [74]. In the case of hydraulic lime mortars, it is known that the mechanical resistance to compression increases with time [75], with the binder content, and with the use of continuous granulometry for aggregates [76]. This property is determined by applying a constant load of 1 mm/min without acceleration on each of the half-samples obtained after the flexural strength test. In Figure 5, the test method used and the results obtained are shown.
of mortar for application on-site. This property depends on the internal cohesion of the mortar and reflects its ability to support loads without disintegrating [74]. In the case of hydraulic lime mortars, it is known that the mechanical resistance to compression increases with time [75], with the binder content, and with the use of continuous granulometry for aggregates [76]. This property is determined by applying a constant load of 1 mm/min without acceleration on each of the half-samples obtained after the flexural strength test. In Figure 5, the test method used and the results obtained are shown.  Table 7 shows the statistical discussion for the compressive strength in each group of lime mortar produced. To carry out this discussion, the ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni tests have been used, as they meet the necessary assumptions for parametric samples. As can be seen in Table 7 and Figure 5, the reference mortars without additions were the ones with the highest mechanical resistance to compression (3.2367 MPa), because they presented a more compact matrix and there were no preferred breakage points, as they did not incorporate insulation materials. For this property, it is observed that the addition of mineral wool fibers did not imply an improvement in compressive strength, as has been observed in other previous studies of fiber-reinforced mortars [77]. Even so, mortars with the addition of mineral wool insulation present higher resistance than mortars with the incorporation of expanded polystyrene granules. Thus, the differences in means between mortars with the incorporation of recycled EPS insulation compared to  Table 7 shows the statistical discussion for the compressive strength in each group of lime mortar produced. To carry out this discussion, the ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni tests have been used, as they meet the necessary assumptions for parametric samples. As can be seen in Table 7 and Figure 5, the reference mortars without additions were the ones with the highest mechanical resistance to compression (3.2367 MPa), because they presented a more compact matrix and there were no preferred breakage points, as they did not incorporate insulation materials. For this property, it is observed that the addition of mineral wool fibers did not imply an improvement in compressive strength, as has been observed in other previous studies of fiber-reinforced mortars [77]. Even so, mortars with the addition of mineral wool insulation present higher resistance than mortars with the incorporation of expanded polystyrene granules. Thus, the differences in means between mortars with the incorporation of recycled EPS insulation compared to the reference mortars or with the addition of mineral wool were statistically significant for a 95% confidence level. Table 8 shows the mean difference in compressive strength for the same type of lime mortar as a function of the insulating residue content.
From the analysis of Table 8, it can be deduced that in the three types of mortar with the incorporation of thermal insulation materials analyzed, those with lower residue content (2.5 g) presented higher mechanical resistance to compression, being, in turn, the differences of means obtained for each of the statistically significant groups for a confidence level of 95%. Both the reference mortar, as well as all mortars incorporating 2.5 g of thermal insulation, had a resistant class M2.5 at 28 days according to the UNE-EN 998-2: 2012 standard [78].

Physical Characterization Tests
For the physical characterization of the prepared mortars, the following properties were studied: bonding strength, apparent density, Shore D surface hardness, water absorption by capillarity, and thermal conductivity.

Bonding Strength
The bonding strength of a mortar can be defined as the property that allows it to remain attached to the ceramic surface that makes up the factory [79]. To determine this property, the UNE-EN 1015-12:2016 standard clarifies that it is necessary to measure the maximum pull-out traction by direct load perpendicular to the surface of the mortar for rendering or plastering that has been applied on certain support [80]. When the adherence is greater, the mechanical energy of the interface between the mortar and the application surface can absorb; this property depends on various factors such as the type of binder, the dosage used, the degree of wetting of the support, and its type or the presence of salts in the masonry factory [81]. The results derived from this test and its method of performance are shown in Figure 6. From the analysis of Table 8, it can be deduced that in the three types of mortar with the incorporation of thermal insulation materials analyzed, those with lower residue content (2.5 g) presented higher mechanical resistance to compression, being, in turn, the differences of means obtained for each of the statistically significant groups for a confidence level of 95%. Both the reference mortar, as well as all mortars incorporating 2.5 g of thermal insulation, had a resistant class M2.5 at 28 days according to the UNE-EN 998-2: 2012 standard [78].

Physical Characterization Tests
For the physical characterization of the prepared mortars, the following properties were studied: bonding strength, apparent density, Shore D surface hardness, water absorption by capillarity, and thermal conductivity.

Bonding Strength
The bonding strength of a mortar can be defined as the property that allows it to remain attached to the ceramic surface that makes up the factory [79]. To determine this property, the UNE-EN 1015-12:2016 standard clarifies that it is necessary to measure the maximum pull-out traction by direct load perpendicular to the surface of the mortar for rendering or plastering that has been applied on certain support [80]. When the adherence is greater, the mechanical energy of the interface between the mortar and the application surface can absorb; this property depends on various factors such as the type of binder, the dosage used, the degree of wetting of the support, and its type or the presence of salts in the masonry factory [81]. The results derived from this test and its method of performance are shown in Figure 6.  For the statistical discussion of this property, non-parametric tests were used, as this variable does not comply with the normality assumptions. Table 9 shows the results for each group of mortars and the comparison of means between the different groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test for independent samples.
As shown in Table 9, and in accordance with the results obtained in Figure 6, the highest average adherence was obtained for the reference mortars without additions (0.3567 MPa), the group of mortars with incorporation of EPS-F insulation, and those that had a lower resistance to adhesion (0.1522 MPa). Thus, it can be stated that the incorporation of residues from thermal insulation materials into the matrix of lime mortars decreases its adhesion capacity in ceramic walls. These results follow other previous studies where the resistance to adhesion of masonry mortars incorporates CDW [82]. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis mean comparison test can also be seen in the lower part of Table 9, where it can be seen that the difference in means between the reference mortar and each of the mortars with incorporation of thermal insulation (EPS-I, EPS-F, and MW) are statistically significant. The same occurs with the difference in adherence means between the samples that incorporate EPS-I and EPS-F, which turned out to be statistically significant for a confidence level greater than 95%. For its part, Table 10 shows the difference in adhesion means for the same mortar with different proportions of insulating residue (2.5 g versus 4.5 g). According to the results collected in Table 10, in all cases, a higher adhesion was obtained in mortars that incorporated a lower amount of insulation materials (2.5 g). However, in this case, the differences between the adhesion mean obtained between the same mortars with a different proportion of thermal insulation in their matrix were not statistically significant in any of the cases.

Apparent Density
The density of hardened mortars depends on the individual densities of the different components that make them up. In this sense, one of the greatest advantages of incorporating expanded polystyrene insulation waste is the reduction in final density compared with traditional lime mortars [54]. To determine this property, the recommendations of the UNE-EN 1015-10/A1 [83] standard were followed. Figure 7 shows the hydrostatic balance weighing method and the results derived from this test.
As in the previous case, for the discussion of the results obtained, non-parametric tests were used as this property does not meet the necessary assumptions to perform an ANOVA analysis. Table 11 shows the results obtained for each group of mortars and the comparison of measurements made between the different groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test for independent samples.
Buildings 2022, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW incorporating expanded polystyrene insulation waste is the reduction in final compared with traditional lime mortars [54]. To determine this property, the reco dations of the UNE-EN 1015-10/A1 [83] standard were followed. Figure 7 shows drostatic balance weighing method and the results derived from this test. As in the previous case, for the discussion of the results obtained, non-para tests were used as this property does not meet the necessary assumptions to perf ANOVA analysis. Table 11 shows the results obtained for each group of mortars a comparison of measurements made between the different groups using the Kruska lis test for independent samples. According to the results obtained in Figure 7 and analyzed in Table 11, the in ration of CDW from thermal insulation materials reduces the final density of ha lime mortars. More specifically, mortars with the incorporation of expanded poly are those with the greatest reduction in density, with the group of mortars incorp EPS-F being the lightest (1808.444 kg/m 3 ). The mean differences found between th ence mortar with EPS-I and EPS-F both turned out to be statistically significant. Th happened in the case of the MW mortar, whose mean differences with both EP EPS-F were statistically significant for a confidence level greater than 95%. These are in agreement with those obtained by other authors who have used expanded p rene to reduce the density of plaster precast [53].
On the other hand, Table 12 shows the difference in adhesion means for th mortar with the two proportions of insulating residue used (2.5 g vs. 4.5 g).  According to the results obtained in Figure 7 and analyzed in Table 11, the incorporation of CDW from thermal insulation materials reduces the final density of hardened lime mortars. More specifically, mortars with the incorporation of expanded polystyrene are those with the greatest reduction in density, with the group of mortars incorporating EPS-F being the lightest (1808.444 kg/m 3 ). The mean differences found between the reference mortar with EPS-I and EPS-F both turned out to be statistically significant. The same happened in the case of the MW mortar, whose mean differences with both EPS-I and EPS-F were statistically significant for a confidence level greater than 95%. These results are in agreement with those obtained by other authors who have used expanded polystyrene to reduce the density of plaster precast [53].
On the other hand, Table 12 shows the difference in adhesion means for the same mortar with the two proportions of insulating residue used (2.5 g vs. 4.5 g). As can be seen in Table 12, mortars with a higher dosage of insulating residue (4.5 g) obtained a lower density than their counterparts with a lower dosage (2.5 g). However, the differences in density mean found between the different dosages used were not statistically significant in any of the types of mortars analyzed with the incorporation of these CDWs. This lower density of mortars with the incorporation of 4.5 g of insulating residues follows the lower mechanical resistance to compression obtained by this type of lime mortar.

Surface Hardness
The surface hardness of mortars represents the ability of these materials to resist being scratched by another material on their surface [84]. These types of tests are of great importance in lime mortars that are going to be used as coatings in rehabilitation works since they give us an idea of the resistance to surface wear that they offer over time [85]. To determine the values of this property, a Shore D durometer was used and the indications of the UNE 102042: 2014 [86] standard were adapted, taking, as a result, the average of five random measurements on two flat-parallel lateral faces of the specimens, with 4 × 4 × 16 cm hardened mortar. Figure 8 shows the test method and the results obtained for each of the dosages used. As can be seen in Table 12, mortars with a higher dosage of insulating residue (4.5 g) obtained a lower density than their counterparts with a lower dosage (2.5 g). However, the differences in density mean found between the different dosages used were not statistically significant in any of the types of mortars analyzed with the incorporation of these CDWs. This lower density of mortars with the incorporation of 4.5 g of insulating residues follows the lower mechanical resistance to compression obtained by this type of lime mortar.

Surface Hardness
The surface hardness of mortars represents the ability of these materials to resist being scratched by another material on their surface [84]. These types of tests are of great importance in lime mortars that are going to be used as coatings in rehabilitation works since they give us an idea of the resistance to surface wear that they offer over time [85].
To determine the values of this property, a Shore D durometer was used and the indications of the UNE 102042: 2014 [86] standard were adapted, taking, as a result, the average of five random measurements on two flat-parallel lateral faces of the specimens, with 4x4x16 cm hardened mortar. Figure 8 shows the test method and the results obtained for each of the dosages used. The analysis of the results of the Shore D hardness tests for each group of mortar is presented in Table 13. Due to the fulfillment of the necessary assumptions for the application of parametric tests, the comparison of means between groups of mortars was carried out employing the ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni tests. The analysis of the results of the Shore D hardness tests for each group of mortar is presented in Table 13. Due to the fulfillment of the necessary assumptions for the application of parametric tests, the comparison of means between groups of mortars was carried out employing the ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni tests. As can be seen in the results shown in Table 13, the reference mortar without additions was the one with the highest Shore D surface hardness. In addition, the differences in means between the reference mortar and the other three types of mortar with the incorporation of thermal insulation materials were statistically significant. It should be noted that among the mortars with the incorporation of shredded insulation in their composition, the lime mortars with insulating mineral wool fiber were the ones with the highest surface resistance, and the mortars with the incorporation of expanded polystyrene were the ones with the worst performance against superficial deterioration. Table 14 shows the comparative analysis of each type of mortar with CDW incorporation according to the amount of residue added in its manufacture. From the analysis of Table 14, it can be seen that all mortars with the incorporation of 2.5 g of recycled thermal insulation were those with the highest average surface hardness. However, the difference in means for the counterparts that incorporated 4.5 g of residue were not statistically significant in any of the cases analyzed.

Water Absorption by Capillarity
When working with lime mortars for rehabilitation and their use as coatings, it is essential to know the mechanisms that cause the suction of water by porous materials [87]. This phenomenon is mainly produced by the surface attraction between liquid and solid, which causes a decrease in the free surface energy of the system if a drop of water spreads inside the porous body [88]. The absorption of water by capillarity depends on the diameter of the capillary pore and on how the network of pores inside the mortar are interconnected [89], although the type of aggregate used in its composition, the binder/aggregate ratio, and the difference also influence pressure between the penetrating water and the inner surface [90]. The test method that allows understanding of the coefficient of water absorption by capillarity in mortars is the one described in the UNE-EN 1015-18:2003 [65] standard, using half-rods of mortar submerged in water, one centimeter from the lower face, and fractured for 90 min. Figure 9 shows the test method and the results obtained for the different mortars used. For the statistical discussion of the results obtained in the water absorption test b capillarity, Table 15 is used. This physical property met the criteria of normality and ho moscedasticity required for the application of parametric tests, for this reason, a compa ison was used for the mean difference using ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni analysis. For the statistical discussion of the results obtained in the water absorption test by capillarity, Table 15 is used. This physical property met the criteria of normality and homoscedasticity required for the application of parametric tests, for this reason, a comparison was used for the mean difference using ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni analysis. As can be seen in Table 15, the reference dosage is the one that shows the best behavior to prevent pathologies derived from the absorption of water by capillarity, since it has the lowest absorption coefficient (1.5378 kg/mm 2 min 0.5 ). For their part, the dosages with the incorporation of mineral wool fiber thermal insulation materials were the ones that presented the worst results for this property, having an average water absorption by capillarity higher than that of the other mortars included in this study. All the analyzed mean differences turned out to be statistically significant for a confidence level greater than 95%, except for the comparison between EPS-I and EPS-F, which returned a non-statistically significant difference. Table 16 shows the results obtained for the comparison between mortars with the incorporation of thermal insulation based on residue content. In all the cases analyzed in Table 16, the mortars with the highest proportion of thermal insulation material in their composition (4.5 g) presented less water absorption by capillarity, which may be due to the lower compactness of these mortars [91]. However, as reflected in the p-value collected in Table 16, the mean difference with the mortars that incorporated 2.5 g of insulating residue could not be considered statistically significant in any of the tires analyzed.

Thermal Conductivity
The building sector is moving towards an efficient use of natural resources and a reduction in the environmental impact generated by industrial activity; thereby, the sector is committed to the design of new eco-efficient materials that minimize energy consumption and incorporate CDW in composition [92]. In this sense, the study of the thermal performance of lime mortars for use in rehabilitation and restoration works is oriented towards the general idea of using durable materials that improve the starting conditions of the initial construction system [93]. For this reason, one of the greatest possibilities offered by the use of thermal insulation materials in the manufacture of this type of mortar is the reduction of the thermal conductivity of the materials made with these raw materials [94]. For this test, the standard UNE-EN 12667: 2002 [95] was used as a reference. Figure 10 shows the equipment used to determine the thermal conductivity through the heat flow that passed through the mortar specimen, and the results obtained for this physical property. In addition, Table 17 presents the analysis of the results for each mortar group using the ANOVA and Dunn-Bonferroni tests. According to the results shown in Table 17, mortars with the incorporation of thermal insulation material reduce thermal conductivity compared to traditional lime mortars. The incorporation of EPS-F residue is the one that presents the best results on average (0.9833 W/mK), followed by the other residue of expanded polystyrene (EPS-I, 1.075 W/mK). Furthermore, when carrying out the mean comparison study, it was obtained that all the mean differences found in each of the comparisons were statistically significant for confidence levels above 95%. Table 18 shows an exhaustive analysis of the results obtained for the comparison between mortars with the incorporation of thermal insulation as a function of residue content. From the analysis of Table 19, it can be deduced that in the three types of mortars with the incorporation of CDW studied in this work, the thermal conductivity was reduced in the samples that contained a greater amount of thermal insulation material. Additionally, the difference in means obtained between mortars with the incorporation of foam was statistically significant. This does not happen in the same way with mortars made with mineral wool fiber, where the differences in the mean thermal conductivity between the mix containing 2.5 g and the one containing 4.5 g were not statistically significant.  According to the results shown in Table 17, mortars with the incorporation of thermal insulation material reduce thermal conductivity compared to traditional lime mortars. The incorporation of EPS-F residue is the one that presents the best results on average (0.9833 W/mK), followed by the other residue of expanded polystyrene (EPS-I, 1.075 W/mK). Furthermore, when carrying out the mean comparison study, it was obtained that all the mean differences found in each of the comparisons were statistically significant for confidence levels above 95%. Table 18 shows an exhaustive analysis of the results obtained for the comparison between mortars with the incorporation of thermal insulation as a function of residue content.

Durability Tests
From the analysis of Table 19, it can be deduced that in the three types of mortars with the incorporation of CDW studied in this work, the thermal conductivity was reduced in the samples that contained a greater amount of thermal insulation material. Additionally, the difference in means obtained between mortars with the incorporation of foam was statistically significant. This does not happen in the same way with mortars made with mineral wool fiber, where the differences in the mean thermal conductivity between the mix containing 2.5 g and the one containing 4.5 g were not statistically significant.

Durability Tests
We understand the durability of mortars as their ability to withstand the physicochemical conditions to which they are exposed throughout their useful life, and that in some way may cause their deterioration. In this sense, durability tests are of vital importance when it comes to knowing the behavior of mortars over time. For this reason, this section contains three tests that evaluate the durability of the processed samples: freezing; salt crystallization; and shrinkage.

Freeze-Thaw Test
The freeze-thaw test evaluates the suitability of the mortars that are going to be used outdoors in climates that reach temperatures below 0 • C, determining the loss of mass and mechanical resistance that occurs in the samples when subjected to constant dimensional changes as a consequence of intermittent icing and thawing inside [96]. To carry out this test, the adopted recommendations of the UNE-EN 12371 standard for natural stone [66] were followed. The results shown in Figure 11 show the variations produced in flexural strength and loss of mass after the test.
The freeze-thaw test evaluates the suitability of the mortars that are going to be used outdoors in climates that reach temperatures below 0 °C, determining the loss of mass and mechanical resistance that occurs in the samples when subjected to constant dimensional changes as a consequence of intermittent icing and thawing inside [96]. To carry out this test, the adopted recommendations of the UNE-EN 12371 standard for natural stone [66] were followed. The results shown in Figure 11 show the variations produced in flexural strength and loss of mass after the test. Figure 11. Results of the freeze-thaw test. Flexural strength of samples subjected to freezing cycles (striped stripes) and reference samples (solid stripes), including loss of mass.
As can be seen in Figure 11, lime mortars that incorporated 4.5 g of recycled insulating material had lower flexural strengths and greater loss of mass after the test than mortars that contained 2.5 g of insulation in their composition. Furthermore, it can be seen that the mortars that incorporated polystyrene insulation had a worse performance than the reference mortars without additions, which resulted in a high loss of mass after the test, together with a strong decrease in their mechanical resistance to bending. However, it can be seen that mortars that incorporated mineral wool insulation had greater stability Figure 11. Results of the freeze-thaw test. Flexural strength of samples subjected to freezing cycles (striped stripes) and reference samples (solid stripes), including loss of mass.
As can be seen in Figure 11, lime mortars that incorporated 4.5 g of recycled insulating material had lower flexural strengths and greater loss of mass after the test than mortars that contained 2.5 g of insulation in their composition. Furthermore, it can be seen that the mortars that incorporated polystyrene insulation had a worse performance than the reference mortars without additions, which resulted in a high loss of mass after the test, together with a strong decrease in their mechanical resistance to bending. However, it can be seen that mortars that incorporated mineral wool insulation had greater stability and experienced less degradation when subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. These results are in agreement with those obtained by other authors who have studied the beneficial effect of the incorporation of fibers in the mortar matrix to increase the durability of these construction materials [97]. Table 19 shows the results derived from the statistical comparison between the flexural strengths obtained for the samples subjected to durability cycles versus the reference samples tested at the same age. As they were related samples and complied with the necessary assumptions, the Student's t-test was applied for related samples.
In Table 19, it can be seen that in all the cases studied, except in the sample LM-EPS-F-2.5, the difference in means between the flexural strength in the reference specimens and the specimens subjected to freeze-thaw cycles were statistically significant. In addition, it is observed that, in all cases, the mean flexural strength was greater in the specimens with no cycles, as expected, with the sample LM-MW-2.5 being the one with the highest flexural strength, and therefore the one with the best performance presented before this durability test.

Salt Crystallization
The crystallization of salts, of different nature and formation depending on the environmental parameters, is one of the most frequent and aggressive deterioration mechanisms that construction materials can suffer, especially if they are porous [98]. Although there is no specific standard to carry out this test on mortars, the UNE-EN 12370 standard for application to the natural stone was adapted [67]. This is a test that generally causes intense deterioration, since once the water from the solution evaporates and the salt crystallizes, it remains lodged inside the mortar and occupies a volume 17 times greater than in solution [99]. The results of the flexural test on the mortar samples with and without crystallization cycles are shown in Figure 12, together with the loss of mass of the cycled specimens.
there is no specific standard to carry out this test on mortars, the UNE-EN 12370 standard for application to the natural stone was adapted [67]. This is a test that generally causes intense deterioration, since once the water from the solution evaporates and the salt crystallizes, it remains lodged inside the mortar and occupies a volume 17 times greater than in solution [99]. The results of the flexural test on the mortar samples with and without crystallization cycles are shown in Figure 12, together with the loss of mass of the cycled specimens. In Figure 12, it can be seen that the deterioration suffered by the mortar specimens after having been subjected to the salt crystallization test was greater than that obtained in the freezing test. It can be seen that there was a strong loss of mass in all the samples subjected to crystallization cycles, the loss of mass being greater in mortars that incorporated polystyrene insulation materials in their composition. It is also observed that the samples that contained a higher content of insulating residue (4.5 g) showed worse performance in this test, and lower bending strengths than the samples with less incorporation of residue (2.5 g). In addition, as was the case with the freezing test, mortars with the In Figure 12, it can be seen that the deterioration suffered by the mortar specimens after having been subjected to the salt crystallization test was greater than that obtained in the freezing test. It can be seen that there was a strong loss of mass in all the samples subjected to crystallization cycles, the loss of mass being greater in mortars that incorporated polystyrene insulation materials in their composition. It is also observed that the samples that contained a higher content of insulating residue (4.5 g) showed worse performance in this test, and lower bending strengths than the samples with less incorporation of residue (2.5 g). In addition, as was the case with the freezing test, mortars with the incorporation of mineral wool residue presented less mass loss than the rest when subjected to crystallization cycles, even reaching mechanical bending strengths close to that of lime mortars without additions.
Next, Table 20 presents the results derived from the statistical comparison between the flexural strengths obtained for samples subjected to salt crystallization cycles versus the reference samples tested at the same age. As was the case for the freezing test, these are related samples, and met the necessary assumptions to apply the Student's t-test. As can be seen in Table 20, except for the mortars with the incorporation of 4.5 g of polystyrene, all the tested samples presented a significant mean difference between the flexural strength of the reference specimens and those subjected to crystallization cycles. It can be seen that, in all cases, the specimens without cycles that did not suffered deterioration or loss of mass showed greater resistance to bending and, as was the case with the freezing test, the LM-MW-2.5 dosage was the sample with the incorporation of insulation material that had the best performance when subjected to this durability test. It should be noted that these types of tests are of special relevance for the preparation of restoration mortars that are to be applied in urban environments, where it has been verified that run-off water can have a high salt content that is detrimental to the lime mortars applied outdoors [100].

Shrinkage
Shrinkage is the process of volumetric contraction that mortars undergo during their setting process [101]. This phenomenon has two distinct origins, which can lead to two types of shrinkage: thermal or hydraulic. In any case, it is a phenomenon that directly affects the durability of mortars, generating internal stresses that, depending on the modulus of elasticity and the deformation capacity of the mortar, can range from volume reduction to cracking of the samples. [102]. For this reason, it was decided that we would study the shrinkage produced in the lime mortars made for 180 days, using 25 × 25 × 287 mm samples. The results derived from this trial are shown in Figure 13. The results obtained in Figure 13 show that the incorporation of the different isolates from CDW used in this investigation reduced the shrinkage of the lime mortars. In the case of the samples with the incorporation of EPS, it can be seen that the incorporation of an amount of 4.5 g decreased the shrinkage more than in the case of mortars that contained 2.5 g of this material, with the expanded polystyrene specially indicated for use, presenting better results on facades. However, and in agreement with other previous studies [103], the incorporation of mineral wool fibers was the one that reported greater dimensional stability for mortars.

Conclusions
This research delves into the possibility of incorporating waste from three different types of thermal insulation materials (EPS-F, EPS-I, and MW) as raw material in the manufacture of lime mortars. In this way, this research is intended to assist in moving towards a more sustainable management of construction and demolition waste, exploring the many possibilities offered by this type of waste to improve the technical performance of the lime mortars traditionally used in restoration and rehabilitation works.
In the mechanical characterization of mortars, it was possible to observe the beneficial effects of the incorporation of mineral wool insulation fibers in the production of these materials. In this way, an increase in the flexural strength of lime mortars was observed with the incorporation of this residue, compared with the reference mortars, not observing The results obtained in Figure 13 show that the incorporation of the different isolates from CDW used in this investigation reduced the shrinkage of the lime mortars. In the case of the samples with the incorporation of EPS, it can be seen that the incorporation of an amount of 4.5 g decreased the shrinkage more than in the case of mortars that contained 2.5 g of this material, with the expanded polystyrene specially indicated for use, presenting better results on facades. However, and in agreement with other previous studies [103], the incorporation of mineral wool fibers was the one that reported greater dimensional stability for mortars.

Conclusions
This research delves into the possibility of incorporating waste from three different types of thermal insulation materials (EPS-F, EPS-I, and MW) as raw material in the manufacture of lime mortars. In this way, this research is intended to assist in moving towards a more sustainable management of construction and demolition waste, exploring the many possibilities offered by this type of waste to improve the technical performance of the lime mortars traditionally used in restoration and rehabilitation works.
In the mechanical characterization of mortars, it was possible to observe the beneficial effects of the incorporation of mineral wool insulation fibers in the production of these materials. In this way, an increase in the flexural strength of lime mortars was observed with the incorporation of this residue, compared with the reference mortars, not observing large differences between the two in compressive strengths. However, the incorporation of the expanded polystyrene granular residue was detrimental to the mechanical strength of the mortars, regardless of the residue content and the type of polystyrene. Finally, it was possible to observe that the best results were obtained in mortars with the incorporation of 2.5 g of residue, compared to mortars with 4.5 g of residue.
Regarding the physical characterization of the prepared mortars, both the Shore D surface hardness and the adhesion on ceramic surfaces were negatively affected as a result of the incorporation of these insulating residues. On the other hand, the incorporation of expanded polystyrene materials made it possible to reduce the final density of the mortars and their thermal conductivity, with mortars that incorporated 4.5 g of this type of residue in their composition having a better performance, and the prepared mortars having better characteristics with EPS-F. Finally, the absorption of water by capillarity was negatively affected, since in all the analyzed mortars higher absorption coefficients were obtained than in the reference lime mortars.
Finally, durability tests showed that mortars made with this type of thermal insulation waste can be designed for use in exterior cladding. Specifically, after freeze-thaw cycles and salt crystallization, it was possible to verify that lime mortars with the incorporation of mineral wool residue had good stability and better resistance after accelerated aging tests than traditional mortars. In all cases, it was observed that the content of 4.5 g of residue reduced the final mechanical strength of the material and led to a greater loss of mass after durability tests, compared with samples containing 2.5 g of thermal insulation materials. Furthermore, both in the freezing test and in the salt crystallization test, the mortars with the incorporation of EPS residue were the ones that showed the worst results. In the end, the shrinkage test showed the beneficial effect of incorporating these residues in the lime mortar matrix to provide them with greater dimensional stability, obtaining the best results after incorporating mineral wool fiber residues.