Cow Dung Ash in Mortar: An Experimental Study

This study investigated the impact of using cow dung ash (CDA) as a partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in mortar. Mortar mixes are prepared by replacing OPC with CDA at varying levels: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%. The chemical composition shows that it is composed primarily SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, significant amount loss ignition. workability, hardened properties, microstructure CDA-containing mortars also analyzed. increasing content mortar reduces workability and, beyond causes high water absorption due to CDA’s porous nature unremoved organic compounds. impacts density compressive strength well compromising its homogeneous characteristics. When 5% CDA, bulk comparable those control mixes. Nonetheless, proportion increases, both diminish. thermal stability 30% unaffected temperatures between 500 °C 600 °C. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis reveals presence unreacted particles wide stretched C–S–H gels samples. In general, results suggest can be utilized substitute ratio up 10% manufacturing serve feasible alternative cementitious material.