Effect of Dune Sand in Physico-mechanical Properties and Sustainability of Calcareous Mortar Modified by Styrene-butadiene-rubber Latex

Abstract

As part of environmental preservation efforts, and to satisfy ecological and environmental requirements, from the recovery of certain materials widely abundant in remote areas, to reduce the excessive exploitation of natural sources, this study aimed to evaluate dune sand and crushed limestone sand. Thirteen mortar mixtures were manufactured, varying the weight substitution rate of crushed limestone sand by dune sand. The substitution rates were set at 0 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 %. To reduce the impact of the greenhouse effect due to CO₂ emissions resulting from cement manufacture, and as an ecological replacement, we carried out a partial mass replacement of the cement by styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex of the order of 2.5 % and 5 %. This experimental study evaluates physico-mechanical properties such as porosity, absorption and mechanical resistance. As for the great importance of durability, the study of the tests (mass loss, visual examination and X-ray diffraction) after immersion of the samples in the 5% H₂SO₄ are evaluated. The results indicate the possibility of substituting calcareous sand with dune sand at a rate of 30 % and using 5 % of SBR Latex, to obtain beneficial results regarding the tensile strength by flexure by values of 38.83 % and 47.2 % at 28 and 90 days respectively, where the same mixture outperformed (control mortar M1 28 days) by 3.9 % in 90 days in compression, regarding durability, the decrease in mass loss was 28.40 % compared to M1.