PROPERTIES OF SUSTAINABLE MORTAR WITH COPPER SLAG AS FINE AGGREGATE

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 9, Issue 12, December 201
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=12
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976
©IAEME Publication
PROPERTIES
WITH COPPER SLAG AS FIN
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
NDMVPS’s KBT College of Engineering, Nashik, Maharashtra
Assistant Professor, Applied Mechanics Departmen
S. V. National
ABSTRACT
The construction industry around the globe is progressing at a very high pace.
Numerous infrastructural projects demand a vast supply of natural raw materials. The
over-exploitation of the natural resources for construction has a
the environmental. Thereof making construction unsustainable. Utilization of
industrial waste in construction is gaining force, not only due to non
the good quality natural raw mat
industrial by-products to be a valuable resource. The present experimental study is
conducted to investigate the feasibility of Copper slag as fine aggregate in mortar
mixes. Total ten mortar mixes with
prepared,and their properties
natural river sand (reference mortar). The mixes
compressive strength, percentage water absorption
abrasion resistance. Present study infers
aggregate improves the compressive strength, flow, abrasion resistance and reduces
percentage water absorption
Keywords: Copper Slag, Mortar, Compressive Strength, Abrasio
Absorption.
Cite this Article: A. M. Bhoi and Dr. Y. D. Patil, Properties of Sustainable Mortar
with Copper Slag As Fine Aggregate
Technology (IJCIET) 9(12
http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=9&IType=12
1. INTRODUCTION
The construction industry around the globe is progressing at a very high pace. Numerous
infrastructural projects are being undertaken to
population. These infrastructural projects demand a vast supply of natural raw materials. In
IJCIET/index.asp 315 editor@iaeme.com
International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
2018, pp. 315–322, Article ID: IJCIET_09_12_03
6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
Scopus Indexed
PROPERTIES OF SUSTAINABLE MORTA
H COPPER SLAG AS FINE AGGREGATE
A. M. Bhoi
Dr. Y. D. Patil
Assistant Professor, Applied Mechanics Department,
National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujrat
natural resources for construction has a negative
industrial waste in construction is gaining force, not only due to non
quality natural raw material but also due to the great potential of various
products to be a valuable resource. The present experimental study is
mixes. Total ten mortar mixes with varying percentages of copper slag
their properties are compared with properties of mortar mix comprising
natural river sand (reference mortar). The mixes were evaluated for flow, density,
compressive strength, percentage water absorption, percentage pore voids and
abrasion resistance. Present study infers that the inclusion of copper slag as fine
absorption and percentage pore voids in the mortar.
Slag, Mortar, Compressive Strength, Abrasion Resistance, Water
A. M. Bhoi and Dr. Y. D. Patil, Properties of Sustainable Mortar
with Copper Slag As Fine Aggregate, International Journal of Civil Engineering and
2), 2018, pp. 315–322.
infrastructural projects are being undertaken to satisfy the requirements of the ever
editor@iaeme.com
035
OF SUSTAINABLE MORTAR
E AGGREGATE
negative impact on
industrial waste in construction is gaining force, not only due to non-availability of
potential of various
products to be a valuable resource. The present experimental study is
varying percentages of copper slag were
with properties of mortar mix comprising
for flow, density,
, percentage pore voids and
of copper slag as fine
n Resistance, Water
A. M. Bhoi and Dr. Y. D. Patil, Properties of Sustainable Mortar
International Journal of Civil Engineering and
satisfy the requirements of the ever-growing

A. M. Bhoi and Dr. Y. D. Patil
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 316 editor@iaeme.com
the present scenario, the availability of the natural raw material for the construction is grossly
inadequate. The over-exploitation of the natural resources for construction has a negative
impact on the environmental. Thereof making construction unsustainable. Throughout the
world, different strategies are being suggested to improve the sustainability credentials of the
construction industry.
On the other front, various industries are generating enormous quantities of wastes. The
use of these industrial by-products as raw material for the construction is an appealing option.
This strategy is gaining force, not only due to non-availability of the good quality natural raw
material and peril of depletion of natural resources but also due to high potential of various
industrial by-products to be a valuable resource. The utilization of industrial waste in the
construction industry will not only provide valuable resource but will also avoid the
unsustainable practice of dumping these potential resources into landfills, covering huge land
areas and probably causing water and air pollution. It should be recognized that depending on
the location various industrial waste materials can be advantageously utilized as raw material
for construction
Worldwide researchers are making efforts to find ways to effectively utilize these
industrial wastes in construction such as rubber waste [1], ceramic waste [2], agricultural
waste [3], glass waste [4], and so on. Among the various industrial wastes, copper slag is one
that has great potential to be used as raw material for construction. Copper slag is generated as
a byproduct at the time of matte smelting and extraction of copper. Around 41 million tons of
copper is produced across the world while India alone produces around 2.7 million tons
(ICSG 2017). Each ton of copper produced generates approximately 2.2 ton of copper slag
[5]. Some of this copper slag is used for manufacturing cutting and abrasion tool, some for the
preparation of subgrade but, a large quantity is generally dumped into stockpiles. The high
abrasion resistance, better compressibility, good soundness and sharp angular edges of copper
slag are the advantageous feature that makes it suitable to be used as a substitute for natural
fine aggregate in concrete as well as in a mortar.
Experimental studies conducted by researchers in the past have reported use of copper
slag as a substitute for natural fine aggregate. The findings of the experimental studies
conducted by Al-Jabri et al. [6]–[8], Bhoiet al. [9], and Wu et al. [10] infer strength
improvement in concrete on the inclusion of copper slag. Experimental investigation by
Brindha and Nagan [11] indicated a decrease in pores in copper slag concrete. Mithun and
Narasimhan [12] demonstrated improved performance in terms of workability and strength.
The present experimental study is conducted to investigate the feasibility of Copper slag
as fine aggregate in mortar mixes. Total ten mortar mixes with varying percentages of copper
slag were prepared, and their properties are compared with properties of mortar mix
comprising natural river sand (reference mortar). The investigations by the previous
researchers were conducted by substituting the natural sand with an equal weight of copper
slag. In the present investigation, an equal volume of copper slag is used as a substitute of
natural river sand so that the ratio of fine aggregate and paste available in the mix be kept
almost constant. The mixes were evaluated for flow, density, compressive strength,
percentage water absorption, percentage pore voids and abrasion resistance.

Properties of Sustainable Mortar with Copper Slag As Fine Aggregate
2. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
2.1. Materials
2.1.1. Cement
53 grade, Ordinary Portland cement conforming to the specifications laid down in IS 12269-
2013 [13]was used for the preparation of mortar mix.
2.1.2. Fine aggregate
Reference mix (Mix RM) was prepared using natural river sand brought from Tapi river,
Maharashtra. The remaining ten mixes (C1 TO C100) were prepared using copper slag
procured from Birla copper Hindalco Industries, Gujrat, (comprising 0% to 100% copper slag
as a sand substitute with an increment of 10% at each substitution level). The sand, as well as
copper slag used in the present study, is categorized within zone-I, as per IS 383-1970 R 1997
[14]. The river sand and copper slag obtained had a specific gravity of 2.67 and 3.44
respectively, which was determined by the pycnometer method as per IS 2386- part III-1963,
R 2002 [15]. Water absorption of sand and copper slag was determined to be 0.98% and
0.017%, respectively, following the procedure depicted in IS 2386- part III-1963, R 2002
[15].
2.1.3. The chemical composition of copper slag
The chemical composition of copper slag was determined using an X-ray fluorescence
spectrometer. Copper slag consists of approximately 55% Fe2O3, 33% SiO2, 6% CaO, 3%
Al2O3 along with traces of MgO, SO3, Na2O, TiO2, Mn2O3, and CuO. The exceptionally high
amount of Fe2O3 is the reason for its high specific gravity. Low amount of lime present makes
it almost unlikely to be used as the cementitious material.
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Mix preparation
1:3 mortar mix with water content as per standard consistency determined for mix RM was
used.
2.2.2. Preparation and testing of the specimen
Cube shaped specimen with 70.7 mm side were used for compressive strength and density as
per IS 4031 part 4, 1988, R 2005 [16]. Cylindrical specimens of size 100 mm diameter and 50
mm height were evaluated for percentage water absorption and percentage permeable voids as
per ASTM C 642 2014 [17]. Resistance to wear was determined using an abrasion test on the
specimen of size 70.6 mm × 70.6 mm and thickness between 15 to 20 mm in accordance with
IS 1237:2012 [18].
Water was slowly added to the properly dry mixed ingredients of mortar and mixing was
continued to get proper mix. Flow test was conducted as per IS: 4031 (part 7) – 1988, R 2005
[19] on the fresh mortar mix. Molds were then filled in layers and were properly compacted
over the vibrating table.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Flow and density of mortar mix
Figure 1 depicts the variation in the flow and density of the mortar mix at different copper
slag substitution percentages. It is apparent from the Figure 1 that the flow of the mortar
increased with increase in the substitution level almost linearly. At each substitution level the
flow increase being 115 mm at 0% substitution to 176 mm at 100% substitution. This
indicates around 53% increase in the flow at 100% substitution level. The glassy surface
texture and almost zero water absorption of the copper slag justify such behavior. Figure 1
also infers that the density of mortar also varied almost linearly with copper slag content. The
high specific gravity of copper slag justifies the increase in the density of mortar. In
comparison with RM, there is a 17.42% increase in the density of mortar at 100% substitution
level.
Figure1 Flow and density of mortar mix.
3.2. Compressive strength
The results of 7 and 28 days compressive strength test on mortar are illustrated in Figure 2.
The indicate a consistent increase in the compressive strength up to 60% substitution level,
and after that, a consistent decrease is seen. At the age of 7 days, the mortar mixes RM and
C10 to 100, respectively, gained 68.96, 69.50, 68.13, 66.84, 67.85, 68.36, 67.69, 66.36, 64.06,
63.98, and 63.04% of their 28 days compressive strength. In the concrete mixes with copper
slag, the rate of strength gain is seen to be less than that in the mix RM at an early age. After
28 days of curing, the compressive strength of mortar mixes was higher than that of mix RM
up to 70% substitution and was lower that mix RM at higher substitution percentages. The
mortar mix C10 to C70 achieved, respectively, 7.82, 6.33, 7.65, 8.47, 8.64, 9.97, and 1.67%
higher compressive strength at the age of 28 days, in comparison with mix RM. Whereas, the
compressive strength of mortar mixes C80 to C100, was 7.13, 11.46, and 14.60% less,
respectively, when compared with mix RM.
The higher compressive strength of mortar mixes C10 to C60 can be justified by the
excellent cohesion and better compressibility of copper slag over that of natural sand [10],

[20]. With the increase in the quantity of copper slag in the mortar mixes the amount of free
water available in the mix increases [6]. Beyond 60% replacement level the free water
available in the mix increases due to the presence of copper slag. This could have reduced the
strength of mortar with more than 70% substitution percentage.
Figure 2 Compressive strength of mortar mix.
3.3. Percentage water absorption and percentage pore voids
Figure 3 Water absorption and volume of permeable pore voids in the mortar mix.
Variation in the percentage of water absorption and percentage of permeable pore voids in
the mortar mixes at different substitution levels is illustrated in Figure 3. The trend of

variation in percentage water absorption and percentage permeable voids is mortar is more or
less similar to the variation trend in compressive strength. The percentage water absorption of
mix C10 to C70 was respectively, 18.81, 32.67, 53.47, 50.5, 62.38, 67.33, and 39.11% lower
in comparison with mix RM. However, the percentage water absorption of mix C80 to C100
was, respectively, 1.98, 15.84, and 47.52% higher in comparison with mix RM. In
comparison with mix RM the percentage permeable pore voids in the mix C10 to C70 were,
respectively, 21.22, 35.94, 57.56, 51.59, 62.07, 63.26, and 38.46% less, while that in mic C80
to C100 were, respectively, 4.51, 20.82, and 55.7% higher.
The surplus free water present in the mix results in the formation of voids in the mix. The
interconnectivity of these voids increases the water absorption and decrease the compressive
strength due to the formation of feeble regions.
3.4. Abrasion resistance
The resistance of mortar to wear measured in regarding abrasion resistance is shown in Figure
4. The abrasion resistance of the mortar mix increases with a rise in the volume of copper slag
available in the mix. Abrasion resistance of mix C10 to C100 was respectively, 2.23, 5.12,
7.57, 9.13, 12.47, 14.92, 15.81, 17.82, 20.49, and 22.49% higher than that of mix RM.The
better hardness of copper slag in comparison with that of natural river sand is the reason for
this improved abrasion resistance. This signifies that copper slag mortar can be used in the
applications where mortar is used as wearing course which is subjected to moving or rolling
loads.
Figure 4 Abrasion thickness for mortar mix
4. CONCLUSION
Following are the key conclusions drawn from the results of the present experimental
investigation.
• The inclusion of copper slag increases the flow of mortar due to higher free water available in
the mix; this signifies that copper slag mortar can be easily worked with at low water content.
• The density of mortar increases as the amount of copper slag used as fine aggregate increases.

• The inclusion of copper slag as a substitute for natural river sand has a favorable effect on the
compressive strength of mortar.
• The percentage water absorption and percentage of permeable voids in the mix increased
considerably at the higher substitution level.
• The higher abrasion resistance suggests copper slag mortar can be used in the various
applications as wearing surface.
• Copper slag can substitute up to 70% natural sand.
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