

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.
| Engineering controlled terms: | AdhesivesBending strengthBindersBond strength (materials)Carbon footprintCementsCompressive strengthGas emissionsGreenhouse gasesLimeMortarReductionWater absorption |
|---|---|
| Engineering uncontrolled terms | Binder replacementCapillary water absorptionCeramic powderCeramic wasteCompressive and flexural strengthsCorn cobCorn cob ashMasonry mortarsSupplementary cementitious materialSustainable mortar |
| Engineering main heading: | Fly ash |
| Funding sponsor | Funding number | Acronym |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina |
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”.
Lukić, I.; Department of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia;
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