Moroccan sand characteristics and their effect on mortar quality

Abstract

This study unveils El Oualidia sand's potential as a revolutionary construction material for superior mortar. Beyond standard analyses, we investigate crucial properties like water absorption, pH, conductivity, and microstructure. El Oualidia sand boasts a record-high silica content (highest among tested sands) coupled with exceptionally low water content (0.96 %), optimal fineness modulus, and a remarkably dense structure, confirmed by SEM. These unique characteristics translate into unmatched mechanical performance in El Oualidia sand mortar. It exhibits outstanding flexural and compressive strengths of 3.55 MPa and 15.80 MPa, respectively, surpassing other sands. This discovery positions El Oualidia sand as a groundbreaking material for producing high-performance and sustainable mortar, opening exciting new avenues for the construction industry.