Engineering Properties of Agro Waste Ash-Cement Mortar Incorporating 0.5% Nano Silica

• Author(s): O. R Olulope ; W. O Ajagbe.
• Paper ID: 1709480
• Page: 368-374
• Published Date: 10-07-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 9 Issue 1 July-2025

Abstract

Urbanization in Nigeria requires a huge quantity of cement. The atrocious impact of cement on the environment necessitates novel and greener locally developed materials. Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) offer possible solution. This study investigated some engineering properties of cement mortars containing Nano silica (NS), Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Groundnut Shell Ash (GSA). Rice husk was burned to ash at 700? while groundnut shells were slightly milled and burned to ashes at 600? in a furnace to obtain the RHA and GSA respectively. NS was synthesized from RHA. Mortar mixing ratio 1:3(binder/aggregate) and 0.5 (water/binder) were adopted. Cement was partially replaced with NS (0, 0.5%), GSA (0, 7.5, 10, and 12.5%) and RHA (0, 5%) to produce 8 mixes named M0-M7. The particle size, specific surface areas and chemical compositions of the SCM were determined. Fresh mortar was tested for workability and cast mortar cubes were tested for compressive strength, abrasion resistance and water absorption. Results indicated that NS had the least particle size (46 nm), highest specific surface area (72 m2/g) and the sum of the three pozzolanic oxides was 89% while RHA and GSA were 78 nm, 42 m2/g, 81% and 94 nm, 43 m2/g, 27%, respectively. Workability reduced with rise in SCM content. Compressive strength improved with the addition of the combined SCMs. Inclusion of NS improved both the abrasion resistance and the water absorption. Conclusively, 0.5% NS enhanced the engineering properties of the mortar.

Keywords

Impact of cement, Engineering properties, Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Citations

IRE Journals:
O. R Olulope , W. O Ajagbe. "Engineering Properties of Agro Waste Ash-Cement Mortar Incorporating 0.5% Nano Silica" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 1 2025 Page 368-374

IEEE:
O. R Olulope , W. O Ajagbe. "Engineering Properties of Agro Waste Ash-Cement Mortar Incorporating 0.5% Nano Silica" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(1)