Experimental investigation of the production of a new mortar mixture using waste pumice powder on wall blocks

In this study, mortars were produced by using the pumice powder aggregates accumulated as waste at the factory site of the Kaleblok Bims Company which manufactures lightweight construction elements with pumice extracted from the quarries in Demirdöven district of Pasinler province of Erzurum city. Using CEM IV/B 32,5 R type cement as binder 1:3(cement/sand), 1:3(cement/pumice), 1:4(cement/pumice), 1:5(cement/pumice), 1:7(cement/pumice) fixed volume ratio mortar mixes were produced. By using the specified mortar mixtures, double (plastered, unplastered), triple (plastered and unplastered) and staggered pumice block wall samples were prepared. Pumice block wall samples were subjected to mechanical tests and their compressive strength, shear strength and modulus of elasticity values were obtained by using experimental results. As a result of the experimental study, it was found that the strength and behaviour of the block wall samples prepared with 1:3 (cement/sand) mortar used as a reference and the block wall samples prepared with 1:3 (cement/pumice) and 1:4 (cement/pumice) ratio mortar were determined to be similar. It was concluded that as the amount of pumice powder increased in the mortar groups prepared with pumice powder, the unit weight and strength decreased. As a result of the study, it was evaluated that cement-binding mortars that can be used in the production of pumice block wall can be produced with the pumice dust accumulated as waste in the factory site.