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MaterialsVolume 16, Issue 20, October 2023, Article number 6725

Environmentally Friendly Masonry Mortar Blended with Fly Ash, Corn Cob Ash or Ceramic Waste Powder(Article)(Open Access)

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  • aDepartment of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
  • bVinča, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
  • cFaculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, 78000, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Implementing a circular approach through waste valorization in mortar production with environmentally efficient mix design is a viable pathway for relieving the ecological burden of greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion and waste management. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility of using fly ash (FA), corn cob ash (CCA), and ceramic waste powder (CWP) as supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) in cement–lime masonry mortars. As part of an extensive experimental study, twelve mortar mixtures were made: three reference and nine blended, with mixing ratios of 1:1:5, 1:0.7:4.2, and 1:1:4 ((cement + SCM)/lime/sand), by volume. The examined properties include workability, compressive and flexural strengths, dry bulk density, capillary water absorption, adhesive bond strength, and water vapor permeability. The compressive and flexural strengths of tested mortars were notably impaired, with reductions of up to 60%, while the capillary water absorption coefficient rose by 100% compared to the reference values. The adhesive bond strength of some blended mortars exceeded the strength of the reference mortars. Nevertheless, all blended mortars fulfilled the requirements for general-purpose mortars, while the majority met the criteria for structural masonry applications. In addition, a performance-based index and weighting triangle were used for the comparison and ranking of all analyzed mortar mixtures. The findings of this study may herald a novel use of FA, CCA, and CWP as more eco-friendly binding materials in contemporary construction leading to the reduction in the process’s carbon footprint, the improvement in cost efficiency, and the mitigation of the detrimental environmental impact of waste disposal. © 2023 by the authors.

Author keywords

binder replacementceramic powdercorn cob ashfly ashsustainable mortar

Indexed keywords

Engineering controlled terms:AdhesivesBending strengthBindersBond strength (materials)Carbon footprintCementsCompressive strengthGas emissionsGreenhouse gasesLimeMortarReductionWater absorption
Engineering uncontrolled termsBinder replacementCapillary water absorptionCeramic powderCeramic wasteCompressive and flexural strengthsCorn cobCorn cob ashMasonry mortarsSupplementary cementitious materialSustainable mortar
Engineering main heading:Fly ash

Funding details

Funding sponsor Funding number Acronym
Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
  • 1

    This research was funded by the Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, in the project: “Development of new binders based on agricultural and industrial waste from the area of Vojvodina for the production of eco-friendly mortars”.

  • ISSN: 19961944
  • Source Type: Journal
  • Original language: English
  • DOI: 10.3390/ma16206725
  • Document Type: Article
  • Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

  Lukić, I.; Department of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia;
© Copyright 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Cited by 7 documents

Sathiparan, N.
A systematic review of corncob ash in construction: Current findings and future directions
(2025) Sustainable Materials and Technologies
Mikulionok, I.O.
A State of Art and Prospects of Fly Ash Management
(2024) Energotehnologii i Resursosberezenie
Qasem, F. , Sharaan, M. , Fujii, M.
Recycling of Egyptian Shammi Corn Stalks for Maintaining Sustainable Cement Industry: Scoring on Sustainable Development Goals
(2024) Recycling
View details of all 7 citations
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