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peaps
Eh? The evaporation is just the first (and brief) part of the curing process. Thereafter the process is carbonation where the lime (calcium hydroxide) slowly absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus turns into calcium carbonate (which is what limestone is). In this case "slowly" means years and years, which is why lime mortar used by Romans is rock-hard - it has actually become rock. Lime plaster and mortar does NOT wear out - something must have caused it to deteriorate.Lime doesn't stay dry, it soaks in water and then it naturally evaporates, is one reason it was used.
I think your point is that while that process is going on, it is still flexible and so is able to absorb tiny cracks - which is why it should be used on old buildings, and one reason why it is wrong to use cement on them.
It's used for it's ability to soak water and evaporate it. Nothing to do with the cure process. Oh it BREATHS
Lime mortar degrades over time, everything does