There are numerous uses of sand. Sand is a commonly used ingredient of mortar. Quality of sand is important to produce good mortar.
Function of Sand in Mortar
Followings are the functions of sand as one of the ingredients of mortar.
- Generally, sand is not used in the mortar to increase its strength. Rather it is mainly used as an inert material to increase the volume of mortar for the economy.
- Using sand in the right amount can produce cheap mortar without hampering mortar strength.
- Sand subdivides the paste of cementing materials into a thin film which is the basic principle involved in using all cementing materials.
- Sand offers the requisite surface area for the film of cementing materials to adhere and to spread.
- Sand helps to prevent mortar shrinkage. It also prevents cracking of mortar during setting.
- Well-graded sand increases the density of mortar.
- Sand allows Carbon-Di-oxide from the atmosphere to reach to some depth in case of ft lime mortars and thereby improves their setting capability.
- It is also claimed that some chemical reaction takes place between silica (SiO2) of sand grains and the constituents of the cementing materials to form a hardened mass.
References:
- A text Book of Engineering Materials by Dr. M.A. Aziz
Sand Articles
- What is sand? Composition, Color, and Types of Sand
- Uses of sand
- What is Sandy Soil?- Uses of Sandy Soil
- How to Improve Sandy Soil
- What is the Bulking of Sand? - Significance & Test Steps
- What is Silica Sand? Sources & Uses of Silica Sand
- Types of Silica Sand
- The Health Risks of Silica Sand
- Bulk Density of Sand
- Specific Gravity of Sand
- Sand Unit Weight