Investigation on the effect of Colocasia esculenta extract on the fresh properties of cement paste

Abstract

Currently, the overall concrete development comprises chemical admixtures to change their characteristics, either in their freshen or hardened state. But chemical admixtures may conceivably give off-gases into the indoor air in the buildings. As an alternative to chemical admixtures, admixtures of natural origin i.e., bio-admixtures have been studied by many researchers. This paper is an investigative study of plant extract from Colocasia esculenta on the fresh characteristics of the cement paste. The plant is of wild origin and unproductive to the human need was extracted. The fresh extract from the stem and the leaf part of the Colocasia plant were added in percentages of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% by weight of cement. The variation in the setting time of the cement paste was observed. The outcomes revealed a deduction in the setting time of the cement paste by an increment in the dose of the stem extract and the leaf extract, i.e., tends to decrease the initial setting period and increase the final setting period than the control sample. The workability of a cement paste is measured utilizing the marsh cone flow study and the mini-slump cone test. Both the extracts showed improvement in workability at a 0-minute retention period and thereafter loses their flowability over time due to the accelerating property of the stem extract and viscous nature of the leaf extract. Saturation point was not attained in marsh cone flow graph and hence have to lower the dosage applications.