Physical and mechanical properties of sawdust cement mortar treated with hypochlorite

In this study properties of cement mortar containing sawdust have been studied. Different percentages of sawdust have been used as (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) of the total volume of dry contents. Sawdust used has been collected as a by-product of carpentry factories and has been used in three ways: first pure sawdust second treated with hypochlorite without washing and the third is treated with hypochlorite and washed with water and dried. Compressive strength test has been performed at 7 days and 28 days, while flexural strength, dry density and absorption have been performed at 28 days. The results showed an enhancement of compressive strength, decrease in dry density and absorption for the mortar containing treated and washed sawdust with the increase of sawdust content in the mixture.