Strength compressive behavior of a mortar with partial replacement of natural zeolite with different size

Abstract

In this work, the influence of particle size of the natural zeolite on the pozzolanic behavior is analyzed. The zeolite used comes from the state of San Luis Potosí, central-north region of Mexico, and two different granulometries are presented, one powder (pass mesh No. 200) and another sand (30-100). The main objective of the present work is to compare, in different concentrations, the pozzolanic character of a natural zeolite in two granulometries, by an indirect method on hardened mortar mixtures. In the experimental methodology, the compressive strength of mortar with partial substitution of 0, 10 and 15% is evaluated according to the ASTM C-109 standard. It is evident that a granulometry of this pozzolanic material in the order of 0.6 to 0.15 mm (30-100 mesh) does not present a significant contribution in the mechanical resistance to the compression, taking away the possibility of a pozzolanic activity in any concentration of natural zeolite. This natural zeolite powder has been selected for a deeper physicochemical and pozzolanic characterization for further investigations.