Properties of mortar using supplementary cementitious materials

Abstract

The production of cement leads to high carbon dioxide (CO2) emission which has a negative environmental impact. So, one of the ways to minimize this issue is by the proper use of supplementary cementitious materials also known as SCMs in cement production. This review paper aims to discuss the utilization and effects of SCMs in various binding mixtures of mortar including some advantages and limitations. SCMs are used as a partial substitute for cement. This paper emphasizes the reviewed results on the effect of the SCMs like silica fume, copper slag, steel slag, fly ash, electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), limestone powder, etc on properties of cement mortar and paste. The results on properties of the mortar like flowability, strength (compressive, flexural and split tensile strength) and durability are presented. Besides, parameters like mortar performance, setting time, binding strength, etc are summarized. The effects of physical and chemical properties, fineness, pozzolanic activity, etc of SCMs on properties of mortar are also discussed. Mortars in which cement is replaced by the above-mentioned SCMs comparatively showed higher compressive and flexural strength depending on the replacement ratio and the curing age. Using GGBS as an SCM has enhanced the mortar performance with elevated temperature. Even mechanical and durability properties of the mortars are found to improve for copper slag and steel slag. Thus, the available tests and their findings from different studies have been reviewed, interpreted, and summarized.