Polymer latexes are being increasingly used in the construction industry as modifiers, especially in hydraulic cement concrete and mortar. Figure 1 presents polymeric latexes used as cement modifiers. Among the different presentations of polymeric latexes, elastomers are the most widely used (Ohama, 1995). In practice, there are two basic elastomers applicable to cement mixes and these are natu...

This paper investigates the effect of fineness of fly ash on the performance of cement mortar. Fly ash from thermal plant is used as partial substitute for cement. Fly ash is used as received and also processed by grinding. The study involves four replacement levels of fly ash into cement at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% for each mix design. Mortar cubes are tested for strength, water absorption and so...

This paper presents an experimental study on use of hot-melt polyamide (HMP) to prepare mortar specimens with improved crack healing and engineering properties. The role of HMP in the crack repairing of cement mortar subjected to several rounds of heat treatment was investigated. Compatibility between HMP and hydraulic cement was investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transfor...

In this study, an artificial neural networks study was carried out to predict the quantity of ammonia gas (NH3) of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) cement mortar. A data set of a laboratory work, in which a total of 4 mortars were produced, was utilized in the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) study. The mortar mixture parameters were four different GBFS ratios (0%, 20%, 40% and 60%). Measu...

This paper investigates the physicomechanical properties of mortar containing high volume of fly ash (FA) as partial replacement of cement in presence of copolymer latexes. Portland cement (PC) was partially replaced with 0, 10, 20, 30 50, and 60% FA. Copolymer latexes were used based on 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA) and 2-hydroxymethylacrylate (2-HEMA). Testing included workability, setting ...

Problems relating to disposal of sludge accumulating at waste-water treatment plants (WWTP) in Croatia are described in the paper. The possibility and adequacy of using ash obtained through incineration of sludge is considered. A special emphasis is placed on the significance of ash in concrete industry during production of cement mortar and concrete. Results of worldwide research conducted so ...

In this work, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has been evaluated as a potential reinforcement for cement mortar composites. Two types of vegetable fibres with different composition and properties (cellulose content and microfibrillar angle), sisal, and cotton linters pulps, were initially characterised in order to assess their reinforcing capability. Sisal pulp was found to be most suitable as ...

Original scientific paper In the paper an experimental research has been carried out regarding the possibility for the use of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) in the production of cement mortars with partial cement replacement. Different mixtures of cement mortar have been investigated, with comparison of its basic characteristics with and without certain amounts of added ISSA that was inci...

Cement is the most widely used material for construction. However, the cement production has a negative impact on the environment, as it is one of the contributors to global warming. The production of one ton of cement also produces approximately one ton of CO2. This encourages to the search for more environmentally friendly materials as cement replacement. The aims of this study are to compare...

Cement is produced by co-grinding clinker, gypsum and other components defined in the Cement Standards like limestone, pozzolans, fly ash and slag. The grinding is usually performed in horizontal ball mills. Gypsum is typically the basic source of sulphates (SO3) in the cement. The effect of gypsum on the cement quality is critical and twofold. It affects two of the main properties of this prod...