Experimental study of the physical and mechanical properties of mortar with partial replacement of cement with snail shell powder

Abstract

This work is written to assist in the identification of promising new research and innovations in mortar using snail shell powder that can result in improved mechanical properties, volume change properties, durability, and sustainability. In developing countries where mortar is widely used, the high and steadily increasing cost of cement has made construction very expensive. This, coupled with the deleterious effect of cement production on the environment has led to studies on various materials which could be used as partial replacement for cement in mortar. A systematic replacement of cement with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of snail shell powder was used. The cement/sand ratio of 1:3 and water/cement ratio of 0.4 was used in mixing of mortar cube. The tests carried out on the hardened mortar are; water absorption test, density, and compressive strength test. The result showed that the rate of water absorption increases with increase in percentage of snail shell powder and the crushing strength of snail shellpowder/cement mortar decreases as the percentage of snail shellpowder increases and the crushing strength increases as the age of curing increase for each of the percentage replaced this means that the cement/snail shell powder mortar get stronger with time and that it is suitable for construction in which much strength is not required at the initial stage. Snail shell powder developed good strength in mortar and could be used as a partial replacement for cement if appropriate technology is developed for its proper utilization. Hence 10% of snail shell powder can served as maximum replacement of cement in mortar.