Experimental Investigation of a New Ecological Block Made by Mixing Gypsum Plaster and Desert Sand

Abstract

Researches in green building materials consist of developing alternatives to traditional materials or processes that offer environmental advantages. This paper presents an experimental investigation performed on new green and ecological blocks based on gypsum plaster and desert sand mortar. The first part of this experimental investigation focuses on the incorporation of desert sand, with different proportions, in the plaster matrix. For this, different cubic and cylindrical specimens were prepared by adding 0, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80% sand to the mixture. Thereafter, physical and mechanical properties of mixtures, such as density, absorption, hydration temperature, and compressive strength, were investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of desert sand has significantly improved the properties of sand–plaster mortar compared to those of plaster mortar. The second part of this study consists of studying new ecological blocks manufactured from the optimal mixture, 50% sand + 50% plaster. The results carried out on prototypes of the new blocks give to this new block the opportunity to be used as insulated building materials for the construction of interior walls.