Heidelberg Materials produces i.pro CALIX NHL 3,5 as a natural hydraulic lime at its Socli facility in Izaourt, France, utilizing vertical kilns for the calcination of marl limestone extracted from natural deposits in the Pyrenees region. The manufacturing process involves no corrective additives to alter the rock’s original composition, followed by an extended quenching and maturation period prior to grinding, according to company specifications compliant with the UNI EN 459-1 standard.
Technical Specifications and Natural Composition
The product exhibits a light gray to hazel color profile directly reflecting its natural marl source material without chemical correction. According to Heidelberg Materials technical data, the lime maintains specific chemical and physical thresholds under standard testing frameworks. Free calcium oxide (CaO) measures at 18.5, exceeding the minimum standard of 15 required by UNI EN 459-1, while sulfur trioxide (SO3) sits at 1.23, safely below the 2 ceiling. Particle residue testing records 0.7 retention at 90 micrometers and 1.3 at 200 micrometers. Initial setting time initiates at 191 minutes, providing an extended window for application compared to the minimum 60-minute benchmark.
Application Guidelines and Site Preparation
Mix proportions for i.pro CALIX NHL 3,5 range from 250 to 450 kilograms per cubic meter, depending on the mortar type and target substrate. Application requires clean, dust-free, and grease-free surfaces capable of supporting breathable finishes, historic restorations, or high-value architectural work. Site preparation involves blending the hydraulic lime with water and appropriately graded sand using a standard site concrete mixer or manual mixing for a duration of three to five minutes. For body plaster applications, mixing a preliminary dash coat ensures surface uniformity before applying subsequent layers. Installers must avoid excessive single-layer thicknesses to prevent sagging, finishing the surface through standard leveling and smoothing techniques, or applying a fine-sand finish coat with a trowel where specified.
Masonry Bedding and Physical Performance
When used as a bedding mortar for natural stone or bricks, pre-wetting the masonry units is necessary prior to applying the lime mixture. The formulation also accommodates concrete blocks, thermal blocks, and thermo-acoustic blocks. The hardened mortar provides high cohesiveness and plasticity alongside a slow hardening process that maintains ductility over extended periods. The material accommodates minor structural shifts through inherent flexibility while regulating indoor humidity by absorbing and releasing water vapor to prevent condensation. Heidelberg Materials supplies the product in 25-kilogram bags stacked on wooden pallets wrapped in stretch film, totaling approximately 1.4 metric tons per pallet, with a recommended storage life of six months in dry, cool conditions within original packaging.
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