Effect of calcium carbonate treated crumb rubber and oil palm fruit fibre on the mechanical properties of mortar

Abstract

The present research was conducted to trace the influence of calcium carbonate by treating crumb rubber and exploiting oil palm fruit fibre (OPFF) incorporated mortars. The mechanical properties of treated crumb rubber and the addition of OPFF mortar being added at 0.5% OPFF and crumb rubber replacement of 0-30% by volume of aggregate were examined. The composites were subjected to compression, split tensile test, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and flexural test. The use of calcium carbonate by treating crumb rubber showed a recovery in the losses of rubberized mortar strength. The percentage 0.5% of OPFF added to the composite showed enhancement to the compressive strength, split tensile strength, UPV and flexural strength of the mortar composites. These findings provide a future possibility for using such wastes to decrease the negative effect on the environment they cause and increase the mechanical properties of composites they are added to.