Modeling the physical properties of mortar with the application of expanded vermiculite

Šušteršič, Jakob (author), Bokan-Bosiljkov, Violeta (author), Šajna, Aljoša (author), Hertl, Bojan (author), Ercegovič, Rok (author), Grujić, Bojana (author)

This paper presents a laboratory study on the physical properties of mortar incorporating expanded vermiculite. The basic cement-lime mortar matrix remained unchanged, while the proportions of vermiculite were varied at 10%, 20%, and 30%. The research results demonstrated a significant improvement in physical properties, including compressive and flexural strength, as well as the static modulus of elasticity. This study establishes relationships between these properties and examines the impact of expanded vermiculite on characteristics such as air void content, capillary suction of hardened mortar, total porosity (according to SIA 262, Appendix A), gas and air permeability, and capillary water absorption. Additionally, the water permeability of the mortar was tested, along with its internal resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, up to 200 cycles. The findings of this laboratory research contribute to filling an existing scientific gap, demonstrating that the physical properties of mortar with the addition of expanded vermiculite at 10%, 20%, and 30% are significantly improved compared to mortar without vermiculite.

• Language: English
• Keywords: lightweight cement-lime mortar, expanded vermiculite, laboratory investigations
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 231-250
• Numbering: Vol. 58, issue 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185617
• UDC: 691:666.97
• ISSN on article: 0350-820X
• DOI: 10.2298/SOS250204015S
• COBISS.SI-ID: 237485571
• Publication date in RUL: 13.08.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Science of sintering : the periodical of the International Institute for the Science of Sintering
• Shortened title: Sci. sinter.
• Publisher: Yugoslav Association for ETAN
• ISSN: 0350-820X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 7496194

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Serbian (cyrillic)
• Keywords: lahka cementno-apnena malta, ekspandiran vermikulit, laboratorijske preiskave