UNIT V – MORTARS

CONTENTS
• Introduction of Mortar
• Types of mortar
• Preparation of mortar
• Uses of mortar
INTRODUCTION OF MORTAR
• Mortar is a material used in A mortar joint ensures the bond between the
compressed earth blocks, and this bond gives
masonry construction to fill the masonry its cohesion
the gaps between the bricks
and blocks used in
construction

• Mortar binds bricks and

blocks together to give
strength and stability to a
wall
 DEFINATION OF MORTAR

• When a binding material, a fine aggregate and water are mixed

together in suitable proportions, they form an easily workable paste
which is termed as Mortar.
OR
• Mortar is a workable paste which is prepared by adding required
amount of water to a mixture of binding material and fine aggregate
(also called adulterant). This plastic paste is useful to hold building
materials such as stone or brick together.
 TYPES OF MORTAR
Mortar are classified on the basis of following:-
1. Bulk density
2. Kind of binding material
3. Nature of application
4. Special mortars

According to the classification, these are further classified as:-

 BULK DENSITY
According to the bulk density of mortar in dry state, there are two types
of mortar:
i. Heavy mortar
ii. Light weight mortar
i. Heavy mortar – have bulk density of 15kN/cu.m and are prepared
from heavy quartz
ii. Light weight mortar – have bulk density less than 15 kN/cu.m and
they are prepared from light porous sands from pumice and other
fine aggregates.
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIALS
They are classified into 5 according to the several factors such as
expected working conditions, hardening temperature, moisture
conditions etc.
i. Lime mortar
ii. Surkhi mortar
iii. Cement mortar
iv. Gauged mortar
v. Gypsum mortar
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIALS
i. Lime mortar - the lime is used as binding material. Lime may be
fat lime or hydraulic lime.
- The fat lime shrinks to great extent
- It requires 2 to 3 times its volume of sand
- Lime should be slaked before use
- Unsuitable for water-logged areas or in damp situations
- In hydraulic lime the proportion of lime to sand by volume is about 1:2
- Mortar should be used within one hour after mixing
- With time is posses more power and can be used in damp situations
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIALS
i. Lime mortar
ii. Surkhi mortar - this type of mortar is prepared by using Surkhi
mortar instead of sand
- The powder of Surkhi should be fine enough to pass BIS No. 9 sieve
test and the residue should not be more than 10% by weight
- Surkhi mortar is used for ordinary masonry work of all kinds in
foundation and superstructure
- It cannot be used for plastering or pointing since Surkhi is likely to
disintegrate after sometime.
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIALS
i. Lime mortar
ii. Surkhi mortar
iii. Cement mortar – cement is used as binding material
- Depending upon the strength required and importance of work the
proportion of cement to sand varies from 1:2 to 1:6
- Sand can only be used to form cement mortar other adulterants are
not chemically inert and they cannot be used
- The proportion of cement and sand depends on the specific durability
and working conditions
- Cement mortar is used where a high strength wand water-resisting
properties is required such as underground construction
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIALS
i. Lime mortar
ii. Surkhi mortar
iii. Cement mortar
iv. Gauged mortar – to improve the quality of lime mortar and to
achieve early strength, cement is added to it this process is known
as gauging
- It makes lime mortar economical, strong and dense
- The usual proportion of cement to lime by volume is about 1:6 to 1:8
- It can also be known as composite mortar or lime-cement mortar
- It is used for bedding and for thick brick walls
 KIND OF BINDING MATERIALS
i. Lime mortar
ii. Surkhi mortar
iii. Cement mortar
iv. Gauged mortar
v. Gypsum mortar – these are prepared from gypsum binding
materials
 NATURE OF APPLICATION
i. Bricklaying mortar
ii. Finishing mortar

Bricklaying mortar – This mortar is intended to be used for brickwork

and walls
- Depending upon the working conditions and type of construction, the
composition of masonry mortars with respect to the kind of binding
material
Finishing mortar – this mortar is used in common plastering work and
for giving ornamental effects
- Cement and lime is generally used for ordinary plastering mortar
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
ii. Lightweight mortar
iii. Packing mortar
iv. Sound-absorbing mortar
v. X-ray shielding mortar
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
- Prepared by adding aluminous cement to the finely crushed powder of
fire bricks
- Proportion is 1 part of aluminous cement to 2 parts of powder of fire-
bricks
- It is fire resistant and therefore used in construction of furnace, fire
places, ovens etc.
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
ii. Lightweight mortar
- Prepared by adding materials such as saw dust, wood powder etc. to
lime or cement mortar
- Other materials which may be added are jute fibers, coir etc.
- This mortar is used in the sound-proof and heat-proof construction
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
ii. Lightweight mortar
iii. Packing mortar
- Used to pack oils wells, it possess the property of water resistance
- Varieties available are cement – sand, cement – loam sand and cement
– loam – sand
- Composition is decided according to the conditions
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
ii. Lightweight mortar
iii. Packing mortar
iv. Sound-absorbing mortar
- Used to reduce the noise level, sound-absorbing plaster is formed with
the help of sound-absorbing mortar
- Bulk density varies from 6 to 12kN/cu.m
- Material included in the composition may be Portland cement, lime
gypsum, slag etc.
- Aggregates are selected from light weight porous materials such as
pumice, cinders etc.
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
ii. Lightweight mortar
iii. Packing mortar
iv. Sound-absorbing mortar
v. X-ray shielding mortar
- Used for providing plaster coat to walls and ceiling of X-ray cabinets
- It is a heavy type mortar with bulk density over 22kN/cu.m
- Aggregates are obtained from heavy rock and suitable admixtures are
added to enhance the property of such mortar
 SPECIAL MORTAR
i. Fire resistant mortar
ii. Lightweight mortar
iii. Packing mortar
iv. Sound-absorbing mortar
v. X-ray shielding mortar
- Used for providing plaster coat to walls and ceiling of X-ray cabinets
- It is a heavy type mortar with bulk density over 22kN/cu.m
- Aggregates are obtained from heavy rock and suitable admixtures are
added to enhance the property of such mortar
 PREPARATION OF MORTAR
- For preparing mortar, the water is added to an intimate mixture of
binding material and sand.
- Water used in preparation should be suitable to drink, water should be
free from impurities.
Different methods for preparing mortar are:-
i. Lime mortar
Pounding : pits are formed in hard ground and they are provided with
lining of bricks at the sides and bottom
- Pits are 1.8m long, 400mm wide at bottom, 500mm wide at top and
500mm deep
- Lime and sand are mixed in dry state and mixture is then placed in
pits
 PREPARATION OF MORTAR
Pounding
- Small quantity of water is added and four to five persons with heavy
wooden pounders or beaters work on mortar.
- Turn mortar up and down frequently
- Water is added at intervals
- Once prepared mortar is taken out of the pits
- This method is not efficient
 PREPARATION OF MORTAR
Grinding
- Grinding mills are used in this process
- Mills are of two types:-
i. Bullock – driven grinding mill
ii. Power – driven grinding mill

i. Bullock – driven grinding mill

- Also known as ghani
- Circular trench od about 6m to 9m and 400mm deep is prepared
- Width of 300mm to accommodate stone wheel with margins of 50mm
PREPARATION OF MORTAR
i. Bullock – driven grinding mill
- One end of shaft is attached to pivot and other end is with bullock to
rotate it
- Lime and sand proportions are placed in the trench
- Water is added to bring proper consistency of mortar and bullocks are
allowed to take turns
- Grinding action will take place and lime and sand will be mixed
- Number of turns are recorded by an arrangement known as beale’s tell
tale
- This method can prepare 1.70 cu.m of mortar, in a period of 6 hours
PREPARATION OF MORTAR
i. Bullock – driven grinding mill
ii. Power-driven grinding mill
- Electric power is used in mixing lime and sand together and to
maintain consistency water is added
- Mill consist of pan of diameter 1.8m to 2.0m and two rollers
- With the help of electricity pan rotates and rollers are fixed in other
models rollers rotate and pan is fixed
- This method is quite efficient and produces better quality
PREPARATION OF MORTAR
2. Surkhi mortar
- Mixture is converted in a good paste by grinding in a mortar mill or by
pounding
3. Cement mortar
- Cement and sand are mixed in required proportion in dry state on a
water tight platform
- After mixing properly in dry state water is added
4. Gauged mortar
- Lime mortar is prepared and then the required quantity of cement is
then added and turned up and down to cause intimate mixing
USES OF MORTAR
- For binding building units such as bricks, stone etc
- To carry out pointing and plastering
- To form an even bedding layer of further work
- To improve the general appearance of the structure
- To prepare moulds for coping etc.
- To distribute the weight uniformly from the upper layer to the lower
layer
- To hide open work of brick joints and stonework
- To fill up the cracks