Synergistic Effect of Seawater and Volcanic Pumice Powder on the Properties of Sustainable Cement Mortar

Water shortage is a major global issue affecting the construction industry. One possible solution is to use seawater instead of tap water in cement-based materials. However, this raises concerns about the impact on material properties. In addition, it is known that the use of volcanic pumice powder in cement mortar can improve its properties, but the combined effects of seawater and volcanic pumice powder have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the synergistic effects of seawater and volcanic pumice powder on the slump flow, compressive and flexural strengths, water absorption, and fracture toughness of cement mortar. The main variables in this study are the type of water (Mediterranean water and tap water) and the percentage of volcanic pumice powder (VPP). The volcanic pumice powder content is 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, replacing cement by mass. Based on investigation results, it was shown that the combination of seawater and volcanic pumice powder leads to less fluid and more viscous mortars compared to those made with tap water (TW). However, in the hardened state, seawater promoted the early precipitation of cement hydration, resulting in an increase in compressive strength from the second day until 28-days, along with an improvement in the transport properties of mortar at 28 days. Meanwhile, a noticeable decline in both strength and fracture toughness was recorded for ages more than 28 days and up to 90 days, compared to mortars cast and cured with tap water.