Mortar Mixes Research Articles

Seawater Mixed with One Part Alkali Activated Material: An Environmental and Cost Evaluation.

Concrete production is associated with extensive energy consumption and significant CO2 emissions. In addition, tremendous amounts of freshwater are used as a mixing agent. Urgency is increasing to develop sustainable cementitious materials and promote freshwater-saving strategies. An environmentally friendly alternative binder, seawater mixed with one part alkali activated material, is studied. In this work, a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment was applied to study the equivalent CO2 emission and cost properties of the clinker-free binder. The seawater mixed mortar possesses comparable mechanical properties to Portland cement, with 3 d flexural and compressive strengths of 5.3 MPa and 25.2 MPa. In addition, the mortar developed in this work is of similar cost as commercial cement, but reduces CO2 emissions by 44.8%.

Development of a Non-Structural Prefabricated Panel Based on Construction and Demolition Waste for Sustainable Construction

The study focuses on developing a prefabricated panel for non-structural purposes by optimizing mortar mix designs incorporating recycled microplastic (RMP) and construction demolition waste (CDW) at various ratios (0, 10, 20, 30, and 100%). Experimental procedures encompassed material characterization, mortar specimen manufacturing, compression resistance testing, and thermal/acoustic panel tests following Colombian technical standards. Results indicate that incorporating 20% CDW enhances material strength, with cylinder number 3 (20% of CDW) achieving a resistance of 31.45 MPa. Panels incorporating recyclable waste materials show improved acoustic and thermal insulation properties, with up to 39 dB reduction in sound transmission and a 21 °C decrease in thermal transmission observed (5.6% and 35% for panel and door, respectively). This research advances sustainable construction practices demonstrating the potential of prefabricated panels using recyclable materials, offering eco-friendly solutions with enhanced performance characteristics for construction applications.

Feasibility of underwater 3D printing: Effects of anti-washout admixtures on printability and strength of mortar

The dispersion and reduction in strength of concrete underwater pose significant challenges to advancing underwater 3D concrete printing technology. While employing anti-washout admixtures holds promise, there is a dearth of relevant research. Herein, a study using various potential anti-washout admixtures, such as micro silica (MS), nano silica (NS), glass fibers (GF), and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), in mortar mixes was conducted. These mortar mixes were then printed underwater, and their performance in both fresh and hardened states was evaluated to develop underwater 3D printable mortars. The findings revealed that both MS and NS enhance the washout resistance, extrudability, and buildability of fresh mortar, while also improving the flexural, compressive, and bond strengths of hardened mortar. HPMC enhances underwater printability and bond strength, although it may negatively impact flexural and compressive strengths. GF exhibits adverse effects on underwater printability and mechanical properties and is incompatible with HPMC. Noticeably, the combination of MS, NS, and HPMC greatly enhances underwater printability (no dispersion and lowest extrudability/buildability variation coefficients) and mechanical properties (increasing flexural strength and bond strength by 21 % and 151 %, respectively). These findings led to the proposal of several mortar mixes deemed suitable for underwater 3D printing.

Enhancing Durability of Concrete and Mortar with Ceramic Waste: A Comprehensive Review

The construction industry continually seeks sustainable materials to enhance the durability of structures while minimizing environmental impact. Ceramic waste, a by-product of the ceramic manufacturing process, presents a promising alternative. Traditionally used for tiles, sanitary ware, and bricks, ceramic materials are valued for their high strength, aesthetic appeal, and thermal insulation properties. The study indicates that ceramic waste enhances the durability of construction materials due to its inherent properties, such as low water absorption and high abrasion resistance. Additionally, utilizing ceramic waste addresses environmental concerns associated with landfill disposal, which include soil and water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and the depletion of landfill space. Incorporating ceramic waste into construction materials not only offers environmental benefits by reducing landfill waste and conserving natural resources but also provides economic advantages through cost-effective waste management and material production. This research explores the incorporation of ceramic waste into construction materials, emphasizing the enhanced durability properties like water absorption, Chloride test, UPV test, Electrical resistivity test, freezing and thawing test, drying shrinkage test and sulphate attack test of concrete and mortar mix while highlighting the dual benefits of improved material performance. The results of water absorption increases with ceramic amount increment, resistance to chloride ion rises to 20% replacement, drying shrinkage and electrical resistivity decreases with increase in amount of ceramic waste, freezing and thawing & sulphate attack showed that ceramic waste material used as aggregate increases, mass loss reduces due to freezing and thawing cycles and the amount of ceramic waste material used increases, compressive strength increases up to a certain limit when immersion in sulphuric acid solution.

Exploring the potential of sugarcane bagasse ash as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material: Experimental investigation and statistical analysis

Exploring nonconventional cementitious materials is vital for enhancing material performance, reducing construction industry's environmental footprint, and promoting sustainable resource management. This study investigated the potential of minimally processed sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as a supplementary cementitious material in mortar mixes, examining its effects on compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, density, water absorption, and microstructure. Notably, the SCBA used in this study was processed with minimal energy input, involving only sun drying, coarse sieving through a 150-μm mesh, and gentle oven drying to remove residual moisture. In this view, seven cementitious mixes were prepared, comprising a control mix and six mixes with SCBA replacement levels ranging from 5 % to 30 % by weight of binder (Cement + SCBA). Initially, the 7-day compressive strength decreased with increasing SCBA replacement, whereas 28-day strength increased for mixes containing 5–15 wt% SCBA, with a maximum 12.67 % increase at 5 wt% replacement, and all mixes up to 15 wt% SCBA met ASTM C270 specifications. Up to 5 wt% SCBA substitution enhanced both ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and density, but further additions led to decreased UPV and density values due to the formation of a porous microstructure resulting from increased SCBA content. However, despite this decrease, mortars containing up to 15 wt% SCBA achieved UPV values surpassing the literature-defined thresholds for good (3500 m/s) and excellent (3800 m/s) quality cement mortar at 28 days, indicating yet a well-packed microstructure. The incorporation of upto 15 wt% SCBA resulted in reduced water absorption at 28 days, meeting the requirements of ASTM C62. A quadratic regression model was employed to investigate the relationship between SCBA content and mortar properties, including compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, density, and water absorption. The analysis revealed a statistically significant fit (p < 0.05) with a high coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.90), indicating a strong relationship between SCBA content and mortar properties. Microstructural evaluation confirmed beneficial effects of SCBA incorporation on mortar morphology, within moderate dosage ranges (up to 15–20 wt% SCBA). The study highlights the potential of using energy-efficient SCBA as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material to improve mortar mix performance and contribute to the development of environmentally friendly cementitious materials.

Analysing the Influence of Recycled Concrete Aggregate and Expanded Perlite on Mortar Performance

With population growth and rapid urbanisation leading to excessive waste generation in the construction sector and the scarcity of natural resources, such as natural fine aggregates, the demand for recycled alternatives has increased. In exploring the potential of recycled materials for construction materials, the present study investigated the performance of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and expanded perlite in mortar as a partial replacement for fine aggregates. Different percentages of RCA and expanded perlite were used. A consistent percentage of perlite was used: 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 35%. The RCA and expanded perlite were then mixed with other materials such as cement, water and fine aggregate. Flowability, compressive strength and flexural strength tests were carried out. It was found that a 90% replacement of RCA for each increasing percentage of perlite in the mortar mix resulted in a significant reduction in flow diameter. The compressive and flexural strength of the mortar increased with age. However, the flexural strength of the control mortar, which contained neither RCA nor perlite, consistently exceeded that of the mortar with these additives. The results provide valuable insights for the production of new materials in the construction industry, for waste management and for lightweight yet durable construction solutions.

Synthesis of geopolymer mortar from biomass ashes and forecasting its compressive strength behaviour

The global warming dilemma raised an exigency toward sustainability in the construction industry and compelled scientists to hunt for alternative binders in construction materials. The, geopolymerization as a spectacular technology has arisen as a looming solution to this dilemma. This work assesses the features of geopolymer mortar developed with both industrial and agricultural wastes at ambient temperature curing. The geopolymer mix proportion was evolved in this study using main precursor material as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) or rice husk ash (RHA). Workability and mechanical properties, including compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of different mortar mixes with various percentages of RHA and SCBA for 365 days, were evaluated. Geopolymer mortar with 10 % SCBA and 5 % RHA achieved improvements of 25 % and 13.91 % in compressive strength, 10.6 % and 3.5 % in flexural strength, and 35 % and 16.8 % in split tensile strength, respectively. Good geopolymer gel formation is clearly evident from the SEM images of SCBA mortar. The main polymeric bonds Si–O–Al and Si-O-Si are also identified using FTIR. To assess the efficacious use of biomass ashes, resistance to chemical attack using H2SO4, HCl, Na2SiO3, and NaCl solutions for 365 days was studied. It was revealed that SCBA incorporated geopolymer mortar specimens achieved good resistance compared with RHA geopolymer mortar. The relation between the ambient temperature cured geopolymer specimen compressive strength at 28 days and 365 days chemical solution curried geopolymer specimen compressive strength find out using python and obtained R2 values more than 95 %. Also, this research proposed various machine learning techniques such as long short-term memory, support vector regression, random forest regression, XGBOOST, and AdaBOOST algorithms for the prediction of compressive strength of geopolymer using 724 mixture proportions with diverse curing temperatures and varying ages. The XGBOOST algorithm achieved the highest R² value of 0.92, demonstrating its effectiveness for the strength prediction.

Evaluating the pozzolanic activity of andesite and calcined marl for high-performance concrete: a valorization of algerian mineral resources

This study evaluates the pozzolanic activity of andesite and calcined marl sourced from Algeria for potential use as supplementary cementitious materials. The research addresses the need for sustainable construction practices by leveraging local mineral resources. The objectives include assessing the pozzolanic properties of these materials and their effects on mortar mixes. The methodology involves collecting samples from specific quarries, crushing and grinding them into fine powders, and calcining the marl at 750°C. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Pozzolanic activity was evaluated through Frattini and Saturated Lime Tests, followed by mortar mix analyses with varying substitution levels. Results indicated that andesite and calcined marl exhibit significant pozzolanic activity, with andesite showing the highest reactivity. The inclusion of these additives improved the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and reduced portlandite content, enhancing the durability and mechanical properties of the mortar. The study concludes that these local mineral resources are viable alternatives to conventional cementitious materials, promoting sustainability in the construction industry.

Utilizing Edge-Oxidized Graphene Oxide to Enhance Cement Mortar's Properties Containing Crumb Rubber: Toward Achieving Sustainable Materials.

Scrap tires have become one of the most serious environmental issues worldwide in recent years. Exploiting this scrap has caught the attention of researchers in their efforts to conserve the environment. From a structural engineering materials perspective, a partial fine aggregate in cement mortar can be replaced by crumb rubber produced from scrap tires. This research mainly emphasizes the role of adding 0.1% edge-oxidized graphene oxide EOGO (by the weight of cement) in enhancing the properties of cement mortars containing 5%, 10%, and 15% of crumb rubber (by sand replacement). Cube and prism specimens were employed to investigate compressive and flexural strengths at 7- and 28-day curing ages. A porosity test was also conducted after 28 days of curing. In addition, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) test was performed to investigate the effect of incorporating EOGO on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Results showed an enhancement of the mechanical properties of cement mortar, including compressive and flexural strengths, with the inclusion of EOGO in the mixes. The findings demonstrated that adding EOGO can improve the mechanical properties of mixes containing crumb rubber particles. Specifically, the mortar mix with 0.1% EOGO and 5% crumb rubber exhibited better performance compared with the virgin mix without rubber particles. Therefore, crumb rubber is viable for use as a sand replacement when EOGO is included.

Correlation between destructive and non-destructive evaluation to study of plastic waste aggregate mortar: a case study of mechanical proprieties

Non-destructive evaluation using ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing has extensive applications in the cement materials industry. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test is accepted as alternative to destructive testing to determine the compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and Poisson’s ratio, which are needed for structural design. In modern construction technology, the use of Plastic waste (PW) as a partial replacement to natural aggregates in a mortar mix is growing in popularity primarily because it reduces the initial capital cost of raw materials and the associated conservation in environment. In this regard, this study explains the correlations between mechanical proprieties, and UPV tests for mortar contains 25%, 50%, and 75% of waste aggregate of plastic. Mortar based on Plastic Waste (MPW) specimens were tested by direct, semi-direct, and indirect UPV. UPV measurements can be effectively used to determine the dynamic modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio of Mortar based on Plastic Waste MPW. The dynamic elastic modulus and the Poisson’s ratio decreases for the same mortar composite when at increasing PW content. Thus, the incorporation of PW particles into the cement matrix confirms the capacity of composites to reduce the sound intensity and damp vibrations inside the composites. The results of this study will be significant for non-destructive evaluations of MPW, while additional recommendations for future studies are presented at the end of the paper.

Spent coffee grounds enhanced compressive strength of cement mortar: an optimization study

This paper presents an optimization study of spent coffee grounds (SCG) as cement mortar additives to enhance mortar strength. In recent years, sustainable materials have begun finding their way into cement mortar, with SCG being one. There is limited optimization study on the SCG addition in mortars, hence this study was performed to optimize the curing time and SCG addition in cement mortar to achieve the highest compressive strength through response surface methodology. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization was carried out on the SCG particles to identify their physical properties. An Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was carried out to identify its chemical properties. Simultaneously, a workability test, the flow table test, is conducted to study the effect of SCG on the flowability of the cement mortar mixes. The synergistic effect between SCG content in cement mortar mixes and the curing period was statistically studied and analyzed. Both parameters were then optimized to obtain the best performance mix of SCG in cement mortar. It was found that 1.1% SCG and a curing day of 68 days produced the highest compressive strength (33.4MPa) of cement mortar. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-optimized cement mortar mix presented at least a 12.62% improvement in compressive strength from control cement mortar without SCG additives (28.77MPa). Experimental validation of the optimum condition showed a good agreement with a deviation of 3.12% in three replicates, thus indicating that the optimum model in this work can be used to model the compressive strength of the SCG-cement mortar mixture.

Synergetic impact of volcanic ash and calcium carbide residue on the properties and microstructure of cementitious composites

The synergetic impact of using volcanic ash (VA) and calcium carbide residue (CCR) on the engineering properties of cementitious mortar was assessed. Cement was replaced with VA at 0–40 % by mass and/or CCR at 0–20 % by mass. Blended mortars were tested for flow, setting time, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The flow increased when using VA but decreased with the inclusion of CCR. Compared to the cement-based control mix, ternary mixes had a lesser flow. The impact of VA replacement on the initial and final setting times was marginal until a substitution rate of 40 %, after which the setting times were prolonged. Similarly, the setting time was extended with CCR replacement. The compressive strength and UPV improved with the use of 10–20 % VA and/or 5 % CCR for binary and ternary mortar mixes, with the highest strength of 55.4 MPa and UPV of 4490 m/s being recorded for the mix comprising 20 % VA and 5 % CCR. Mixes were further analyzed through isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The cumulative heat generation was reduced for binary and ternary mixes except for those containing 20 % VA only. The microstructure analysis highlighted the formation of C-S-H and C-A-S-H as reaction products and the consumption of Ca(OH)2. This study provides novel insights into optimal combinations of VA and CCR for superior mortar performance, offering practical approaches to reducing cement content and lowering carbon emissions without compromising performance.

Modification of fresh and hardened properties of 3D-printed recycled mortar by superabsorbent polymers

The high water absorption level of recycled sand limits the applicability of 3D-printed recycled mortar. In this study, superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were adopted to modify the properties of both fresh and hardened 3D-printed recycled mortar. The effects of various SAP dosages, particle sizes, and addition methods were carefully examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and computed tomography (CT) were adopted to observe the microstructure. The test results showed that the addition of SAP effectively improved the printability of the mixed mortar. Particularly, with the addition of SAP, the autogenous shrinkage was reduced by more than 50 %, indicating that the polymer had an obvious inhibitory effect on shrinkage. Furthermore, the hydration of cementitious materials was promoted, resulting in an increase in compressive strength by 27%–69 %. Microstructural analysis further confirmed that the addition of SAP optimized the pore structure and enhanced the density of the 3D-printed mortar but did not change the types of hydration products. Generally, for the modification of 3D-printed mortar with recycled sand, it would be recommended to add SAP at a doping level of 0.4 % with a particle size of 60–100 mesh.

Design analysis and development of a gantry robot for multi-layer 3-D concrete printing with simulation and experimental validation

The present study investigates the design analysis and development of a framed gantry robot (FGR) for 3-D concrete printing. Finite element simulations are performed for design validation and parameter estimation to conduct detailed analysis of the concrete printer. The kinematic and dynamic models of FGR are used for workspace analysis, motion control study, and motor sizing for printer development. The motion trajectory of the printer nozzle tip is evaluated using MATLAB simulations. An integrated programmable logic controller (PLC) with an in-built human-machine interface (HMI) through control algorithms has been implemented for interactive, user-friendly, and precise motion control. A separate control system is developed to monitor the pumping power and feed rate of mortar mix during printing. The simulated control scheme is validated experimentally using trajectory tracking for various input printing paths through HMI, with a maximum tracking error of 1 mm. Successful concrete printing trials have been conducted using various mix-design, following extensive evaluation of different printer and material parameters at the laboratory scale. The proposed design concept, mechanisms, interactive control interface, and tracking accuracy have been validated through simulation and experimental results, for ensuring quality concrete prints by the developed printer. Material testing parameters have been evaluated experimentally for modeling various mix-designs. To further evaluate printing performance, simulations of layer deformation in printed structures are conducted using finite element analysis, incorporating non-linear material models and various contact layer interactions. The simulated results of printed layers of different shapes of structures show a close resemblance with the experimental concrete printing trials.

Unveiling the combined influence of higher molecular weight polyethylene glycol and superplasticizer chemistry on fresh, mechanical, and microstructural performance of internally cured mortar

The limitations of conventional water curing in tall structures and arid regions necessitate alternative hydration strategies. Use of internal curing agents in high strength concrete can effectively mitigate evaporation and promote enhanced cement hydration in the concrete. However, because the superplasticizer is a required component in high strength concrete, compatibility of the internal curing agent with superplasticizer needs to be investigated. This study investigates the efficacy of internal curing (IC) using polyethylene glycols (PEGs)–PEG 4000 and PEG 6000, in conjunction with superplasticizer from two different families, polycarboxylate ether (PCE) and sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde (SNF) in mortar mixes. A total of ten mixes were prepared for which samples from each mix were exposed to standard water curing, room curing, and internal curing. The research outcomes reveal a novel application of PEG 6000 and PEG 4000 in conjunction with PCE-based superplasticizers at optimized dosages, presenting a promising avenue for direct implementation in mortar mixes to meet both mechanical and durability prerequisites. Optimized IC mortar mixes displayed comparable or superior mechanical and durability performance to conventionally cured counterparts. This study demonstrates the potential of PEG 6000-PCE combinations as IC agents for improved fresh and hardened properties, offering a viable alternative for challenging construction environments. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term performance and economic feasibility of IC mortars in large-scale projects.

Selection of an alternate cementitious mortar using ceramic tile dust waste: a hybrid MCDM approach.

Selection of a suitable alternative material from a pool of alternatives with many conflicting criteria becomes a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problem. In the present study, ternary blended mortars were prepared using ceramic tile dust waste (CTD), fly ash (FA), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as binder components. Crusher dust (CD) was used as a fine aggregate component. Binder to aggregate ratios of 1:3 and 1:1 were prepared considering suitable flow. A total of 16 mortar mixes were cast. These mortars were tested for various conflicting criteria compressive strength, flexural strength, porosity, water absorption, bulk density, thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal diffusivity, and thermal effusivity whose weightages obtained were 29.09%, 20.08%, 12.77%, 10.60%, 8.74%, 6.74%, 5.54%, 4.47%, and 1.97%, respectively, as per AHP analysis. Later, considering these different criteria and alternate mortars, it was observed that a 1:1 mortar with 20% CTD, 30% FA, and 50% GGBFS (RC20F30G50) is found to be the suitable mortar with the highest relative closeness coefficient of 0.861 and the highest net outranking flow of 0.316 with respect to MCDM techniques: technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE-II), respectively. The ranking of the mortar in both methods complies with the relative weightages of the criteria and the performance of the mortars with respect to the above criteria.

Panel Dinding Pracetak dari Limbah Pukat dan Serabut Kelapa Berlapis Resin Polyester dengan Motif Desain Glow in the Dark

Using concrete blocks, light bricks, red bricks, thick plastering, and action affects the cost budget. This encouraged the author to create wall panels that are ready to install and do not require mortar mix in finishing. Along with this, trawl and coconut fiber waste were the main materials used in making wall panels, and an additional M6 wire mesh iron was used as reinforcement for the construction. The outermost layer was coated with SHCP 2668 clear polyester resin and catalyst combined with phosphorus strontium aluminate powder and metallic pigment coloring. The method used in this research is the experimental method by making four compositional comparisons for each test with three test objects each. The results of this study are the most optimum composition in a mixture of 1.5: 2.75: 1.5, which has a compressive strength of 13.5 N/mm2 and flexural strength of 2.49 N/mm2 by SNI 03-3122-1992, is ductile, reflective, has a sound absorption of 0.290 dB by ISO10534-2 testing: 1998, water absorption (DSA) of 0.91% by SNI 03-0349-1989, fire resistance at a rate of 0.22 mm/second by modified SNI 1741-2008 testing, able to emit light for 2-3 hours from a 20-minute lighting source by JIS Z 9107 and JIS Z 9095 testing, and has a lower price than other wall panels.

Glass-fibre-reinforced mortar: study of fresh behaviours based on average water film thickness and fibre/cement ratio

Using glass fibres to reinforce cement-based materials (CBMs) has great effects on their fresh behaviours. In addition, the impact of water – particularly the average water film thickness (AWFT) – on the fresh properties of CBMs cannot be ignored. However, the combined effects of glass fibre content and AWFT on the fresh characteristics of CBMs are not satisfactorily understood. Therefore, in this study, mortar mixtures with varying fibre/cement (f/c) ratios and water/cement ratios were prepared and subjected to mini V-funnel tests, mini slump flow tests, stone rod adhesion tests, sieve segregation tests and wet packing tests. The AWFTs of the mortar mixes were also determined. The experimental results indicated that the f/c ratio (fibre content) had a noticeable influence on the fresh properties, packing density and AWFT. Modelling analysis demonstrated strong correlations of the workability, flowability, adhesiveness and cohesiveness with the f/c ratio and the AWFT. In other words, both the AWFT and the fibre content collectively serve as governing factors influencing the fresh behaviours of mortars reinforced with glass fibre.

Variations in the physical and mechanical behavior of basalt fiber reinforced NHL mortars exposed to different curing conditions

This paper investigates experimentally the short-term behavior of natural hydraulic lime (NHL) mortars reinforced with ballast fiber for use as structural repair mortars in historic and contemporary buildings. The physical and mechanical properties of mortar mixes reinforced with 0.143–0.215 mm equivalent thick and 12 mm long fibers in volumetric percentages of 1 %, as well as of unreinforced mortars, produced with different compaction methods and cured under different environmental conditions, have been evaluated. A cost-effectiveness analysis has also been carried out to determine the economic impact of these factors in their practical application. It is found that basalt fiber reinforcement provides lower water absorption coefficients and significantly improves the shore hardness, compressive strength, and post-critical flexural behavior of NHL mortars at early ages. Furthermore, it is observed that the compaction procedure can improve the packing density of the mortars providing higher densities, lower water absorption coefficients and higher mechanical strength values. Finally, it is verified that the curing parameters affect unevenly the basalt fiber reinforced NHL mortars and unreinforced NHL mortars, with greater deterioration being observed in the former when sufficient moisture is not ensured. Decreases in hardness, flexural and compressive strength, as well as increases in the water absorption coefficient are important. Consequently, the economic profitability of basalt fiber reinforcement depends on ensuring optimal moisture conditions during curing, especially when the mixes have already lost excess water after the first 2–3 days. The study provides quantitative and qualitative data to determine the appropriate curing parameters for basalt fiber reinforced NHL mortars that are viable in practice for their industrial performance.

Electrochemical and microstructural analysis of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode composites prepared using the SEED method.

Cathode composites were fabricated using the nuclear growth (SEED) method. Compared to mortar mixing, the SEED method demonstrated higher cycle stability, with a 90LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2-10Li7P2S8I composite retaining 99.7% discharge capacity after six cycles compared to 66.1%. Cross-sectional SEM-EDX images suggest that the solid electrolyte was more uniformly distributed in the cathode composite prepared using the SEED method. This study opens up the potential for higher cathode-active material loading ratios.