Influence of Diatomite on the properties of mortar and concrete: A Review
Neha Sharma, Prashant Sharma, Sujit kr Verma
Abstract
Abstract Pozzolanic additives set off a fundamental part of high strength and most durable concrete mix design. Pozzolanic materials include natural products such as volcanic product (ashes and pumice) and by-product includes metakaolin, rice husk ash, silica fume, fly ash etc. Diatoms have been utilized as one of the pozzolanic additives in industrial sectors and construction industries to improve the rheological and mechanical properties of cement. Diatomite is sedimentary rocks comprised of amorphous or active silica as its main origin. It is being used very frequently as a pozzolanic additive in cement mortar and concrete. It has manifested appreciable effect in altering mechanical and chemical properties of cement. This paper gives an outlook of the work executed on application of diatomite as partial replacement for Portland cement in mortar and concrete. Different mechanical and rheological properties of cement and concrete containing raw diatomite have been widely discussed in the paper.