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Building Materials

Mortar is a mixture used for bonding building materials like bricks, stones, and blocks. It consists of a binding material like cement, lime, or gypsum mixed with sand and water. There are different types of mortar classified based on binding material, application, physical properties, and density. Cement mortar, lime mortar, gypsum mortar, mud mortar, and composite mortars are some common types. Mortar must be workable, develop bonding, and have required strength, durability, and economy. The selection of mortar depends on the application and conditions of use.

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Priyanka Basu
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196 views

Building Materials

Mortar is a mixture used for bonding building materials like bricks, stones, and blocks. It consists of a binding material like cement, lime, or gypsum mixed with sand and water. There are different types of mortar classified based on binding material, application, physical properties, and density. Cement mortar, lime mortar, gypsum mortar, mud mortar, and composite mortars are some common types. Mortar must be workable, develop bonding, and have required strength, durability, and economy. The selection of mortar depends on the application and conditions of use.

Uploaded by

Priyanka Basu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Building Materials

CE-306

MORTAR

Introduction

Building mortars are mixtures used for the jointing of bricks, stones, blocks.
Mortar is defined as a paste (capable of setting and hardening) obtained by adding water to
a mixture of fine aggregates such as sand and binding material, e.g., clay, gypsum, lime or
cement or their combinations.
The mortar composition is designed by the relative amount of materials with the amount of
binding material taken as unity. For simple mortars composed of one kind of binding material
and containing no mineral admixtures (e.g., cement mortar), the composition will be designated,
say 1:4, i.e., one part (by weight or volume ) of binding material (cement) and 4 parts of sand
Uses : (1)In brick and stone masonryit is used in the vertical joints and is spread over each
layer to give bed and a binding medium for successive layers of masonry. (2)In plastering
and pointingto cover exposed walls and joints to protect against weathering besides better
appearance. (3)As matrix in concrete

Classification

On the basis of bulk density

On the basis of binding material :


Cement Mortars are prepared from Portland cement or its varieties, sand and water.
Lime Mortars are mixture of air hardening lime or hydraulic lime, sand and water.
Gypsum Mortars are prepared from gypsums or anhydride binding materials.
Mud Mortars are prepared from clay nodules and are used in construction of houses for poor and
temporary construction works.
Composite Mortars may be surkhi-motar (surkhi, lime and water), lime-surkhi-sand mortar, cementlime mortar and cement-clay mortar

contd.

On the basis of application :


Brick laying mortars are intended for brick work.
Finishing Mortars are intendend for architectural or ornamental parts , application of decorative layers
on walls and panels.
Special Mortars are intended for acoustics, X-ray shielding, plugging concrete at oil fields, etc.
On the basis of physical and mechanincal propeties
The basis of this classification is the strength of concrete which underlies the durability of concrete.
Building mortars are subdivided into nine grades on the basis of compressive strength from 0.4 to
30.0N/mm2.

Characteristics of Good Mortar

It should be workable
It should stiffen in a short time
It should develop good bond with building blocks
It should be durable
It should prevent seepage of water
It should have required strength, which matches with that of building blocks
It should be economical

Functions of ingredients

Cement, lime and clay used as binding materials impart adhesive power and strength.
Sand is an adultrant, but increases the crushing strength of mortar and reduces shrinkage.
When used in lime mortar, it assists the hardening of fat lime by allowing air to penetrate
providing carbon dioxide for carbonisation.
Surkhi is used for economy and for furnishing hydraulic properties to lime mortar. Flyash and
cinders are used in lime mortar as fine aggregate in place of surkhi.
Water in mortar lubricates the surfaces of aggregate, spreads the binding material uniformly so
that it can fill the pores in the fine aggregate and cause hydration of cement and hydraulic lime.
The pH value of water used should not be less than 6.

Cement Mortar

Cement mortar can be prepared by mixing cement, sand and water in desired proportions. Portland
cement and blast furnace slag cement form excellent mortars for walls built with bricks, stones and
large blocks. Puzzolana Portland cement and sulphate-resisting cement form mortar which are used
for constructions exposed to aggressive and waste waters. Cement mortars are used for plastering,
rendering smooth finishes and damp proof courses.

Small quantities of mortar are mixed manually; mechanical mixers may be used for large quantities.Cement mortar should be of uniform and workable consistency. It should be consumed within 30
minutes from the instant of adding water to the mix. The bricks, stones and blocks should be fully saturated in water before laying. The masonry and plastered or pointed surface should be kept completely
wet by sprinkling water for at least 7 days.

Lime Mortar

Lime mortar is made by mixing lime, sand and water. Lime used for mortar may be fat lime (quick or
hydrated lime) or hydraulic lime. Fat lime has high calcium oxide content. Its hardening depends on
loss of water and absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and possible recrystallisation in
due course. Hydraulic lime contains silica, alumina and iron oxide in small quantities. When mixed
with water it forms putty or mortar having the property of setting and hardening under water. Slaked
fat lime is used to prepare mortar for plastering, while hydraulic lime is used for masonry construction
and are most suitable for construction of chimneys and lightly loaded superstructure of buildings. The
mix proportions of lime mortar for various types of works are

Lime mortars have plasticity and placability, good cohesion with other surfacings and little shrinkage.
They harden and develop strength very slowly continuously gaining strength over long period. Fat lime
mortars do not set but stiffen only as water is lost by absorption (by masonry units) and evaporation.
The gain in strength is a very slow reaction of lime with carbon dioxide absorbed from air.
Lime mortar or putty should be kept moist till use and in no case its drying is allowed. The mortar
made of hydraulic lime should be consumed within one day and that with fat lime within 2-3 days.

Lime-Cement Mortar(Gauged Mortar)

It is made by mixing cement and lime. The advantages of lime-cement mortar are increased water
retentivity, workability, bonding properties and frost resistance. The mortar gives good and smooth
plaster finish and is used in buildings.For low lime content, cement and sand are first mixed dry. Lime
putty is dissolved in water and added to the dry mix. The mix is then worked thoroughly with spades
till uniform consistency is obtained. For high lime content lime cement mortar is made in the mills; lime
and sand are first mixed separately in the form of paste for the entire days requirement. Then cement
is mixed with lime mortar in batches to be consumed in an hours time.

Special Mortars

Damp-proof Mortars prepared using high grade sulphate-resisting Portland/puzzolana cement


and quartz sand/sand from crushed solid rock.(approx. comp. 1:2.5 or 1:3.5). Water proof
seams, joints made from damp-proofing mortars prepared with expanding cement.
Sound Absorbing Mortars are prepared with Portland cement, slag cement, lime or gypsum as
binding material, caustic magnesite and single-size fraction sand (3.5 mm) from light weight
porous materials such as pumice, cinders, ceramsite, etc.(bulk density - 600- 1200 kg/m3) .
Fire shielding Mortars are used for setting refractory bricks in the furnace linings where the
temperature is too high for ordinary mortars. Aluminous cements and finely powdered fire
bricks in the ratio 1:2 give excellent fire resisting mortars. Its trade name is Accoset 50.
X-ray Shielding Mortars: Heavy mortar(bulk density > 2200 kg/m3) are required for plastering
walls, ceilings of X-ray cabinets. Binding materials are Portland cement, slag cement, aggregates are from heavy rocks in the form of sand (up to 1.25 mm) & dust. Admixtures containing
light weight elements (hydrogen, lithium, cadmium) added to enhance protective properties.
Packing Mortars are used for for packing oil wells (cement-sand, cement-loam, cement-sandloam). Slag Portland cement, puzzolana, sulphate resisting cements are used for aggressive
water and packing Portland cement when water pressure is expected. Mortars should have
high homogeneity, water resistance, predetermined setting time, adequate water yield under
pressure and ability to form soil water-proof plugs in cracks and voids of rocks.

Selection of Mortar

Assignment

1. What is mortar? Briefly describe the various types of mortars.


2. State the functions of sand in mortar.
3. What proportions of mortar will you recommend in the following cases: 1. Lime concrete in
foundation, 2. Brick work in foundation.
4. (a) What are the functions of sand, surkhi and water in mortar? (b) Under what conditions will
you recommend cement mortar over lime mortar for masonry.
5. What are the characteristics of good mortar.

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