Effects of Shrinkage Reducing Admixture and Polypropylene Fiber Utilization on Some Fresh State, Mechanical and Durability Properties of Khorasan Mortar

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to improve the mechanical and durability properties of Khorasan mortar, a type of lime-based mortar, using polypropylene shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) and fiber. In addition to the control mixture without fiber and chemical admixture, three series of mixtures were prepared. The first series contains 0.4–0.6-0.8% polypropylene fiber by total volume; the second series contains SRA at the 0.05–0.1-0.15% by binder weight; the third series consists of mixtures containing both fiber and the SRA. Within the scope of the study, some fresh state, mechanical and durability properties were determined. The results show that utilization of fiber and SRA reduced the length change depending on drying-shrinkage and mass loss due to abrasion compared to the control mixture. In addition, the 90-day flexural and compressive strength values for all mixtures were lower than the 28-day results. It was determined that the decrease in strength values is less than the control mixture with the utilization of fiber and SRA because of the degradation in drying-shrinkage.

KEYWORDS:

• Durability performance
• Khorasan mortar
• lime-based mortar
• mechanical properties
• polypropylene fiber
• shrinkage reducing admixture

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Bursa Uludag University Science and Technology Centre (BAP) under grant numbers OUAP (MH) −2020/4. Furthermore, the first and second authors recognize the Turkish Council of Higher Education scholarship (YÖK 100/2000 Program) that they received throughout their Ph.D. studies. In addition, the first author acknowledges the scholarship provided by the TUBITAK 2211A during her doctoral studies. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank Polisan Construction Chemicals Company and Polyfibers for their kind assistance in providing the shrinkage reducing admixture and polypropylene fiber and Bursa Cement Factory in determining the chemical composition and physical properties of lime and brick powder.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [2211/A]; Council of Higher Education (YÖK) [100/2000]; Bursa Uludag University Science and Technology Centre (BAP) [OUAP(MH)-2020/4].