Natural pozzolana addition effect on compressive strength and capillary water absorption of Mortar

Abstract The cement manufacturing is the one of the factors that pollutes the atmosphere in the industrial sector. The common way to reduce this pollution is using mineral additives as partial replacement of Portland cement. Particularly, natural pozzolana (NP) is a component in which they can be used to decrease the rate of pollution. The main objective of this experimental work is the study of the effect of substituting cement with natural pozzolana up to 40% on compressive-flexural strength and capillary water absorption of cement mortar. Validation of the results was performed by early age and long term tests. Tests of isothermal calorimetry on paste specimens, and of Mercury intrusion porosimetry on mortar specimens, were performed. The results obtained in the present research showed that the higher dosages of natural pozzolana added could be the principal parameter of such decrease in strength at early and medium term. Further, this increase of incorporated addition has been believed to reduce the capillary water absorption.