MORTAR

“Mortar is a workable paste used to bind bricks or blocks together and fill the gaps between them.”
The term mortar is used to indicate a paste prepared by adding required quantity of water to a mixture of
binding material like cement or Lime and fine aggregates like sand. The two components of mortar namely
the binding material and fine aggregates are some times referred to as matrix. The durability, quality and
strength of mortar will mainly depends on quantity and quality of the matrix. The combined effect of the two
components of mortar is that the mass is able to bind the bricks or stones firmly.
Uses of Mortar
1. To bind the building units such as bricks, stones etc.
2. To carry out painting and plaster works on exposed surfaces of masonry
3. To form an even bedding layer for building units
4. To form joints of pipes
5. To improve the appearance of structure.

Properties of Good Mortar

1. It should be capable of developing good adhesion with the building units such as bricks, stones etc.
2. It should be capable of developing the designed stresses.
3. It should be capable of resisting penetration of rainwater.
4. It should be cheap.
5. It should be durable.
6. It should be easily workable.
7. It should not affect the durability of materials with which it comes into contact.

Types of Mortar
Mortar can be classified into following classes
(i) Mud Mortar
(ii) Lime Mortar
(iii) Cement Mortar

(i) Mud Mortar

It is made up by sticky clay and water, which is pugged until it attends required consistency. Sometimes in
this mortar thaw and organic matter is added and this mortar is used on the un burnt bricks etc.
(ii) Lime Mortar
Lime mortar is prepared by using fat lime or Hydraulic lime with sand and water in correct proportion. The
ratio is 1:2 or 1: 3 by volume. (1 part of lime with 2 parts of sand).
(iii) Cement Mortar
In this mortar, cement is used as binding material. Depending upon the strength required and importance of
work, the proportion of cement to sand varies from 1:2 to 1:6 or more.

Tests of Mortar
1. Crushing Strength Test
Mortar compression strength is important as it will have an influence on the masonry brickwork. The
major factor that influences the strength of the mortar is the type of the mortar itself. Mortar grade I will yield
higher compressive strength compared to mortar grade IV. Admixture which added to the mortar also affects
the final strength of the mortar. Admixture such as air-entraining agent will increase the porosity of the
mortar and thus reduce the strength of the mortar. Factors such as water retention also have influence to the
mortar. Most of the brick masonry constructions in Malaysia are constructed using mortar grade III.
2. Tensile Test
The mortar prepared is placed in a mould of bricket which has central cross-sectional area as 38 mm ×
38 mm. After curing the briquettes pulled under the grips of tensile testing machine. The ultimate load noted.
Then the tensile strength of mortar is load divided by the central cross-sectional area.
3. Adhesive Test: Two bricks are joined together with mortar to be tested as shown in Fig. 2.4. The upper
brick is suspended from an overhead support. A board is hung from the lower brick. Then weights are added
to the board till the bricks separate. The adhesive strength is the load divided by area of contact.