Volume 1, Number  1, Jan-July 2000

Suitability of Marble-Dust for Coloured Plasters

Abdul Aziz Ansari, Ateeq-ur-Rchman Kazi, and Aizam Bano Memon

Abstract:

Altogether two hundred eighty eight specimen of micro concrete consisting of white cement, marble-dust and colour oxides in various proportions have been tested to determine fundamental material properties such as cube crushing strength, tensile strength, poisson's ratio and modulus of elasticity. The major parameters of study are cement:marble-dust ratio, proportion of colour oxides and age of curing. Only yellow and red oxides have been tried. This study is aimed at investigating the suitability of locally available marble-dust as fine aggregate for plastering the walls and floor surfaces with this decorative coat. The results of this study arecompared with previous ones where granular white sand was used as fine aggregate. It is encouraging to note that this material is quite suitable and can successfully be used where ever available, instead of throwing it away as waste material, as is being presently done.