Experimental Analysis of Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Mortar Incorporating Agricultural Waste Materials

This study explores the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of mortar compositions incorporating agricultural waste materials, specifically Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Bagasse Ash (BA), as sustainable alternatives. Experimental results indicate a marked reduction in thermal conductivity as agro-waste content increases. Notably, Rice Husk Ash-based mortar (RH15) and Bagasse Ash-based mortar (BA15) exhibit reductions in thermal conductivity of 19°C and 17°C, respectively, when compared to traditional Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) mortar after four hours of exposure. In geopolymer mortars, mix 7 demonstrates superior thermal performance, with RHA and BA reducing thermal conductivity by 12°C and 14°C, respectively, compared to Fly Ash-based Geopolymer mortar (FA7). The study also evaluates the shrinkage tendencies of the mortars, revealing that higher agro-waste content mitigates shrinkage, with Bagasse Ash-based mortars showing the lowest linear shrinkage at 5% sand replacement. Mechanical strength analysis further highlights the beneficial effects of Bagasse Ash, particularly in PPC-based mortars, where strength improvements are observed at both 5% and 15% sand replacement. Among geopolymer mixes, mix 7 emerges as the optimal design in terms of both thermal and mechanical performance. These findings emphasize the potential of agricultural waste materials to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of mortar compositions, contributing to reduced environmental impact and improved construction materials.