Strength and chemical resistance of mortars containing brick manufacturing clays subjected to different treatments

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the properties of mortar in which a calcined clay was employed as a pozzolan. Mortars were prepared using either heat treated clay or ground waste clay bricks (from the same clay subjected to 1000 °C calcining) as a pozzolanic partial replacement for cement at replacement levels of 10%, 20% and 30%. The compressive strengths of the mortars were monitored up to 90 days and the resistance to sodium sulphate solution and synthetic seawater was monitored up to 300 days. The specimens were also monitored for weight changes. Partially replacing cement by ground brick or heat-treated brick clay gives early strengths that are lower than that of the control. At 90 days, however, the strengths are the same as or are greater than that of the control. Heat-treated clay is effective in reducing expansion during exposure of the mortar to sulphate solution and synthetic seawater. The rapidly cooled clay gives better performance, in terms of strength development and resistance to harmful solutions, than the slow cooled clay.