OUT LINE

 Definition
 Uses of Mortar
 Types of Mortar

 Materials for mortar

• Proportioning of the
component materials
• Properties of mortar
• Batching and mixing
 DEFINITION

 A mixture of sand with a

binding agent (generally
cement and/or lime), to
which water is added in
previously determined
proportions.
 Uses
Mortar
➢ It bonds masonry
elements together Mortar as Binding Material

➢ transmit forces
between elements
and notably vertical
forces
➢ It enables these Pointing Masonry joint
forces to be
distributed across the
whole surface of the
masonry elements.
➢ As a wall plaster and
constituent of
concrete. Plastering Cement Slurry
 Nature of application

 Masonry Mortars Finishing Mortars

Composition
Mortar

 Modern mortars are typically made

from a mixture of
⚫ sand,
⚫ a binder such as cement or lime, and
⚫ water.
 An ideal mortar:

 Adheres completely and durably to all the masonry unit to

provide stability.
 Remains workable long enough to enable the operative to set
the masonry unit right to line and level
 Stiffens sufficiently quick to permit the laying of the units to
proceed smoothly, and provides rapid development of
strength and adequate strength when hardened.
 Is resistant to the action of environmental factors such as
frost and/or abrasion and the destructive effects of chemical
salts such as sulfate attack.
 Resists the penetration of rain.
 Accommodates movement of the structure.
 Accommodates irregularities in size of masonry units.
 Contributes to the overall aesthetic appearance.
 Is cost effective
 Types
of Mortar

Mortars are classified on the basis of the

following
 BULK DENSITY
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIAL
 NATURE OF APPLICATION

There is a large number of mortar types used in the

construction industry.
1. Mud mortar
2. Lime-sand mortar
3. Pozzolime mortar
4. Cement-sand mortar
5. Cement-lime-sand mortar
 1. Mud mortar

✓ The most elementary mortar

✓ Is made from soil mixed with water
✓ The soil which is used for preparing mud
mortar should be free from grass, pebbles etc.
✓ suitable for laying soil blocks
✓ Is not recommended for fired bricks
✓ If exposed to weather will quickly be eroded
by rain
MUD wall
 Applications
Of Mud Mortar

Walls Mud being Plastered to wooden Framework

Mud wall Mud Plaster

Wall with Soil Blocks joined by Mud Mortar
 2. Lime-sand mortar

 Composed of lime and an aggregate such as sand,

mixed with water.
 Lime mortar is primarily used in the conservation of
buildings originally built using lime mortar, but may be
used as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement.
 use of lime results in a relatively workable mixture
 slow hardening makes it less attractive than cement
mortars
 These mortars are inferior to cement mortars in
strength as well as water tightness.
 used for construction work above ground level
 3.Pozzolime mortar
 Naturally occurring volcanic ashes may
contain siliceous material which can have a
pozzolanic reaction with lime.
 Puzzolana may be defined as a siliceous
material which whilst itself possessing no
cementitious properties, reacts in the
presence of water with lime at normal
temperatures to form compounds of low
solubility having cementitious properties.
 4. Cement-sand mortar

 The paste is prepared by mixing cement and sand in

suitable proportions in addition to water.
 General proportion is 1 part of cement to 2-8 parts clean
sand.
 These mortars must be use within half an hour, i.e.;
before initial setting time of the cement
 While the use of lime results in a relatively workable
mixture, rapid development of strength as well as
stronger mortar is most conveniently obtained with
Portland cement.
 used for all engineering works where high strength is
desired such as load bearing walls, deep foundations,
flooring etc.
•When mixing by hand, the sands and cement are heaped up
on a mixing board or in a wheel barrow and repeatedly turned
over and over until thoroughly mixed.
•The color of the dry mix will change as the cement is
distributed throughout - there should be no 'streaking' of
cement, and no clumps of pure sand or pure cement.
•Once the dry ingredients are mixed, the water can be added.
 Dry sand and cement in Begin to mix sand and Mix to evenly distribute
wheelbarrow cement cement

The dry mix should be all one

Add water and plasticiser Mix to required consistency
colour
 5. Cement-lime-sand mortar

 In order to combine the advantages of both

lime and cement, mortars are prepared with
appropriate proportions of Portland cement,
lime and sand, which is known as compo-
mortar.
 Materials for mortar
Sand:
✓ should be well graded, that is the particles
should not all be fine or all coarse.
✓ should be clean, free from dust, loam, clay
and vegetable matter
Water
Clean water is important for the same
reasons, as is clean sand; any impurities
present will affect bond strength between
the paste and sand.
 Proportioning of the component materials

In proportioning the component materials the

following points must also be considered:
 The mixture must be workable so that it can be
placed and finished without undue labor.
(Workable)
 Since Portland cement is the most costly
ingredient in the mixture the proportion used
should be as small as its consistent with the
attainment of desired properties.
(Economical)
Properties of mortar

Some of the properties of mortar are:

1. Workability
2. Strength
3. Water tightness
Workability
 a workable mortar has a
⚫ smooth consistency,
⚫ is easily spread with a trowel, and
⚫ Readily adheres to vertical surfaces
 For the same proportions, lime-sand mortar
invariably gives better workability than
Portland cement-sand mortar
 At times plasticizers and air-entraining
agents are used in order to improve the
workability of cement-sand mortars,
especially when they are lean (i.e.
containing less amount of cement) mixes.
 Strength
 Strength of mortar is affected by a number of
factors, which include the quality of the
ingredients, their proportion, the curing method
and age
 The compressive, tensile, shear and bending
strengths of cement mortar increases with an
increase in the cement content, and this is true
irrespective of the grain size distribution of the
sand.
 The strength of mortar increases with age
 Water Tightness

 At times mortar is used in parts of buildings

exposed to dampness or moisture and
might be required to be watertight.
 With the cement content, materials, and
workability all constant, strength and degree
of water-tightness increase with the density
of the mix.
 Factors affecting the properties of
mortar include:

 The amount of mixing water

 Properties of the binder used

 Cement content; fineness and

composition
 Characteristics and grading of the
sand
BATCHING AND MIXING

 Materials used for making mortar

should be accurately measured,
Cement is usually measured by
weight in cement bags whereas lime
and sand are measured by volume.
50 Kg cement=35 liters
Box size:40cm X 35cmX 25cm
 MIXING THE MORTAR:

•The sand and the cement have

to be thoroughly mixed by hand
or in a mechanical mixer before
adding any water - do not use
dirty water, or water from puddles
or ponds, as this could impair the
final strength of the mortar.
•Similarly, keep any sugar-
containing liquids, such as soft
drinks, well away from the mix -
sugar, even in small amounts,
seriously impairs the setting
ability of the cement.
 Cont’d
 Few examples
of mortar
proportions by
volume for
different
purposes:
For masonry:
Cement mortar
1 cement:
4-5 sand
For bricklaying:
Lime mortar
1 lime: 3-4
sand
Thank you