ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the raw materials, manufacture and properties of the components of masonry – the various brick and block units and the mortar that separates them in the final structure. Very flaky materials such as slates and micas are not very suitable as it is difficult to make them workable. Very porous absorbent materials are also unsatisfactory for dry-mixed mortars since they cause rapid falls in workability during use by absorbing the mixing water. Brick earths, shales, marls mostly contain finely divided silica, lime and other materials associated with the particular deposit, example carbon in coal-measure shales. Typical materials are based on Vinsol resin, a by-product of cellulose pulp manufacture, or other naturally available or synthetic detergents. Sand is used widely as a constituent of masonry in mortar, in concrete units and sandlime units, and in grouts and renders.
