Physical Properties of Cement-Based Paste and Mortar With Dehydrated Cacti Additions

Abstract

This paper presents results on the physical characterization of mortar cubes fabricated with botanical (green) dehydrated additions such as Nopal (Opuntia Ficus Indica) and Aloe Vera. Eighty four mortar cubes were fabricated with and without these natural additions and tested for a period up to 900 days. Mortar without such additions served as controls. The natural dehydrated additions, Nopal and Aloe Vera, were mixed with CPO at different percent replacements (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%). To characterize physical properties of such mixtures, four tests were performed at ~900 days: Total void content, compressive strength, ultrasound wave propagation, and wet electrical resistivity. Marginal improvements were observed within the dehydrated Aloe Vera replacement mixtures. Dehydrated Nopal additions did increase the Downloaded by [University of Tennessee, Knoxville] at 06:20 23 December 2014 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2 physical performance of the mortar with time.

Use of Tunisian Opuntia ficus-indica Cladodes as a Low Cost Renewable Admixture in Cement Mortar Preparations

“…The possible mechanism generated by the addition OFI cladodes powder could be due to the formation a very complex matrix, thereby prolonging the hydration of Portland cement by sequestering water inside the liquid traps. This was supported by the higher compressive strength values after the addition of OFI material compared to the standard specimen [28].…”

Water and chloride permeability of cement‐based mortar with additions of dehydrated cacti

“…Results presented in previous investigations concerned the physical and mechanical characterization of cement pastes and mortars to which dehydrated Nopal and Aloe vera had been added. They were performed in order to determine the basic physical properties of the cement paste mixtures (normal consistency and time of setting) and mortar mixtures (fluidity, ultrasonic pulse velocity, electrical resistivity, capillary porosity, and compressive strength) . The electrochemical performance of reinforcing steel was evaluated in previous investigations using reinforced concrete prisms, to determine the steel corrosion resistance if chloride contamination is present .…”

“…Nopal is a well‐known source of a specialized biopolymer, mucilage, whose industrial potential in several fields has only begun to emerge. Ancestral use of cactus juice in stucco fabrication by pre‐Hispanic civilizations in central Mexico has been recorded for lime‐based materials, but information on applications in cement‐based materials is scarce …”

“…Only few investigations have been reported in the literature and there remain unanswered questions concerning the role of Nopal additions in cement gypsum pastes, cement mortar, and concrete. It has been suggested that mucilage improves the physical properties of cement paste, mortar, and even concrete . Chandra et al fabricated mortar cubes, to which Nopal juice was added as part of the mixing water, or which were immersed in the same juice during curing, and whose properties were tested after the mortar had hardened.…”

“…Martínez‐Molina et al fabricated mortar cubes with dehydrated Nopal and Aloe vera additions at different plant/cement weight ratios (with 1 % to 50 % of Nopal or Aloe vera ). The experimental procedure included compressive strength determinations at different curing times (28, 120, and 200 days).…”