Effect of guar gum on setting, strength and water resistance properties of magnesium oxychloride

Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) has better cementing properties than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) but it is not widely used in construction work due to its weak moisture resistance and low early strength at high temperatures. Guar gum (GG) is a sustainable and environmentally friendly biopolymer, which can perform an imperative role in MOC performance. In the present research, different percentages of GG (0%-2%) were mixed with MOC. MOC-GG composites with different proportions of GG were investigated for their physical and mechanical properties in terms of setting time, moisture ingress, and compressive strength. It was found that 0.5% guar gum works best for improving the strength and H 2 O resistance of MOC. GG easily intermixed with MOC and produces a light-weight, strong structure and reduces porosity of the MOC. The crystalline phases, microstructure, and thermal stability of the MOC-GG composite were also investigated using spectroscopic (FT-IR and Powdered XRD), microscopic (SEM), and thermogravimetric (TGA-DTG) analysis. The results of the MOC-GG composite have shown improved physical and mechanical characteristics as compared to simple MOC.