Development of alternative binders and its application in building construction

Abstract

newlineAppreciable quantity of cement is being used as binder for mortar as well as plaster newlinefor walls. The use of conventional binders such as cement /lime along with natural newlinesand and with additives results in cost escalation and high energy consumption. newlineMasonry mortars in confined masonry do not require high strength. If this could be newlinereplaced by a suitable sustainable binder, about 20-25% reduction in the total cost of newlineconstruction can be achieved. During a span of thirty years, cement cracks may newlineemerge due to its weakness in tension. Besides these cement industries are also newlineresponsible for global warming; approximately 866 kg of CO2 emitted for every tonne newlineof cement produced contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. newlineOn the other hand, the global production of coconut is estimated to be 55 billion, and newlineonly 15% of their husk fiber is used for value-added products. Again, India is one of newlinethe top ten rice producing countries in the world with an annual production of 122 newlinemillion tonnes during the year 2020-21. Kerala contributing to 0.63 million tonnes newlinefrom which approximately 0.13 million tonnes of rice husk could be produced which newlineis often burnt to ash for disposal. The judicious incorporation of lignocellulosic newlinematerials such as coir fibers as reinforcement and rice husk ash as replacement would newlinereduce shrinkage cracks on cement plastered surfaces and would mitigate global newlinegreenhouse gas emissions.The present study aims at the development of alternative binders based on newlinelignocellulosic materials and its application in masonry construction. The scope of newlinestudy includes (i) development of alternative binders for conventional mortar and plaster incorporating lignocellulosic materials as reinforcement and replacement, (ii) newlinedevelopment of products based on proposed binders and mortars as building material newlinefor construction industry, and (iii) enhancement of mechanical and durability newlineparameters of earth-based mortar and plaster using locally available stabilizers and newlinebio-extracts available in Kerala.