Sand is used in numerous ways. Sand is a mortar element that is widely used. It is necessary to produce a good mortar for the value of sand.
The function of Sand in Mortar
The followings are the functions of sand as one of the ingredients of mortar.
- Generally speaking, sand is not used to improve its intensity in the mortar. Actually, it is used mainly as an inert substance to improve the economy’s mortar size.
- Using the right amount of sand can produce low-cost mortar without hampering the strength of the mortar.
- Sand divides the paste of cementing materials into a thin film that is the fundamental principle of using all cementing materials.
- Sand provides the necessary surface area for adhering and spreading cementing product film.
- Sand helps prevent the shrinking of mortar. It also eliminates mortar fracturing during set-up.
- Well-graded sand increases the density of mortar.
- In the case of ft lime mortars, sand enables carbon dioxide from the air to enter a certain depth and thus increases their setting ability.
- It is also believed that a certain chemical reaction exists between sand grain silica (SiO2) and the constituents of cementing materials in order to create a hardened layer.