Author: Haroon Khalil

It is a heavy type of mortar, which is obtained from crushed heavy rocks, and suitable admixtures are added to get the required property. A plastering coat of this mortar is applied to the walls and ceiling of X-ray cabinets.

This type of mortar is formed by compositioning Portland Cement, lime, gypsum, slag, etc. The crushed aggregates are selected from light-weight porous materials such as pumice, cinders, etc.

It is a special type of mortar possessing properties of high homogeneity, water resistance, predetermined setting time and the ability to form solid and water-proof plugs. This property of the mortar is useful for plugging cracks or voids of rocks, resistance to subsoil water pressure, etc., in oil wells. Different kinds of packing mortars are…

It is obtained by mixing materials like saw dust, wood powder, asbestos fibres, jute fibres, etc., to the lime mortar or cement mortar. This type of mortar is used for sound-proof and heat-proof construction.

It is obtained by adding aluminuous cement to the finely ground powder of fire bricks. This is fire-resistant mortar, which can be used with fire bricks for furnace lining, fire places, etc.

This type of mortar is also called Gauged Mortar or Composite Mortar. It is the one wherein the quality of lime mortar is improved by adding cement to get early strength. This makes lime mortar economical, strong and dense. The general proportion of cement to lime by volume is about 1:6–1.8. This mortar is useful…

It is obtained by using cement as the binding material. Cement mortars are assigned certain grades based on their minimum compressive strength at 28 days curing and mix proportion by volume. Some of the grades that are frequently used are given in Table 7.1. Table 7.1 Cement mortar mix and strength Note: MM denotes Masonry Cement Mortar.…

It is prepared using lime and surkhi instead of sand. In case of fat lime mortar only 50% needs to be replaced by surkhi. Surkhi should be powdered well. Surkhi mortar is used for ordinary masonry work. It can not be used for pointing works and for plastering as the surkhi is likely to disintegrate.

It is the mortar wherein fat lime or hydraulic lime is used as the binding material. The lime should be slaked before use. If fat lime is used, 2–3 times the volume of sand has to be used as it shrinks to a great extent. This lime mortar is not suitable for water-logged areas or…

Mortars using different binding materials have been used for various purposes. These are discussed below.