The design and development of the E.I.M.A. system, after a preliminary test of practicability, were accompanied by a deep work of research and experimentation, focused on the formulation and preparation of many standard mortars with different types of aggregate, to be analyzed both by the software that by other analytical techniques compared. This study, completely performed in the laboratories of “Il Cenacolo”, was necessary for the development and optimization of software and for the auditing of results.

All the phases of the research are reported in detail in the flow chart beside.

Based on the results obtained with the test of feasibility is defined the serial of standard mortars to be realized making sure to get the most extensive range of types to be analyzed. Were then made 59 different mortars separeted into 5 types:

• n. 3 "mortars" made only by lime
• n. 8 mortars with lime and ceramic balls (SC)
• n. 16 mortars with lime and crushed marble (M)
• n. 16 mortars with lime and river sand (SF)
• n. 16 mortars with lime and pozzolana (P)

The specimens so produced were submitted to accelerated carbonation cycles and subsequently analyzed: thin sections were set up for the observation with the E.I.M.A. software, were performed disintegration tests for the extrapolation of the granulometric curve, some calcimetry for the calculation of the ratio between binder and aggregate and were determined some physical parameters (also of the only aggregates).
The comparison of the data held has allowed to evaluate the fairness of the system, demonstrating the reliability and reproducibility of given results.