Physico-Mechanical Properties of Plaster of Paris (Gypsum Plaster) Reinforced with Paper Pulp

The study was carried out on the physico-mechanical properties of plaster of Paris (Gypsum plaster) reinforced with paper pulp in order to improve the weight of plaster paste and to obtain materials of lighter weight that solve problems such as poor flexural strength, and crack propagation. To do this experiment, the considerable basis of a standard of 2 kg of plaster of Paris was taken as the test sample. Gradually plaster of Paris was substituted with paper pulp paste in a water basin in proportions K0, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 and K6 representing the different percentages of 0%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% of mixture respectively. After the above observations, the following parameters on fresh and hardened samples were tested: the start time of reaction, and end time of hardening, consistency, the flexural and compressive strength, shrinkage, and apparent density. At the end of these tests, it was determined that, the incorporation of small amounts of paper pulp (2 kg samples) into the plaster paste improves its flexural properties. But from k0 to k6, properties related to bending and compression began to gradually fall which is a consequence of the augmentation of the amount of paper paste in the plaster paste. The presence of paper pulp in the plaster of Paris paste increases the time of hardening of the plaster cement from one proportion to another, reduces the workability of the mixed paste, significantly solves the problem of removal, the apparent density drops when waste paper paste is increased in the mixed plaster. Because of its light weight, low density, its acceptable Mechanical properties, these new materials are recommended for exploitation in the manufacturing of popular lightweight construction finishing like panels for ceiling or walls, staff works and other applications.