PAPERCRETE-Towards A New Beginning: Category

PAPERCRETE-Towards a new
beginning
2014 ISSS Student Award Presentations
• Name of the authors: Jil Sheth

Saransh Joshi
• Faculty of Technology, CEPT
University
• Name of the adviser: Mrs. Anal

Sheth
Category: UG
Motivation
• With the ever increasing pace of industrialization,

the carbon footprint has increased considerably at
an alarming rate. Cement manufacturing itself
contributes to about 5% of the total emission of
greenhouse gases. As a result, it has became
imperatively necessary to evolve such practices and
techniques that considerably reduce the carbon
footprint and are environmental friendly in nature.
A huge amount of resources and a lot of carbon
footprint is consumed in the manufacture of
materials used in construction industries especially
cement. Cement manufacturing consumes large
quantum of energy and requires the extensive use
of various resources.
Motivation
• But, it is an integral ingredient in the

manufacturing of Concrete, which is the most
commonly used building material all over the
world. So, a systematic effort to replace or at least
reduce the amount of cement in concrete can have a
huge impact on Carbon footprint reduction and can
drastically change the entire scenario. This was
precisely the central idea behind this research.
• Also need to develop of low cost housing for less
fortunate people was motivation.
• Need for sustainable eco-friendly building material.
Problem statement
The real problem laid in the fact that there are no specific
guidelines and standards for manufacturing ‘Papercrete’
Specific objectives:
Understanding the material, its properties and its
workability by casting various forms and building
various small elements.
To observe, record ,analyze and compare the properties
of papercrete based on empirical evidences obtained by
testing the material.
To gain an insight about its overall feasibility and its
appearance.
To gain an idea about the approximate quantity of
various ingredients needed for producing a certain
standard amount of papercrete.
Methodology
Papercrete moulds were prepared before hand and ideally

wood is suited for this.
The main materials used for papercrete mix preparation were
waste paper (newspaper), Portland cement OPC-53 grade, Sand,
Potable water and Soil.
Four types of mixes were prepared for the experiment. Mix
proportions by volume in percentages are indicated below:
1) 50% wet paper pulp/ 30% damp earth/ 10% dry sand/ 10%
Portland cement
2) 60% wet paper pulp/ 20% damp earth/ 15% dry sand/ 15%
Portland cement
3) 65% wet paper pulp/ 25% damp earth/ 10% Portland cement
4) 70% wet paper pulp/ 15% damp earth/ 15% Portland cement
Methodology (continued)
There is a lack of any statistical data recorded regarding the physical

characteristics of papercrete in regions like Ahmedabad which have
relatively hotter climate.
So, we conducted our tests during the month of June, when the
temperature was round about 42-47 degree centigrade.
Various elements of different sizes were cast, predominantly a wall and
an arch (compression member).
The units were bound together with mortar in case of a wall, and using
lock and fit mechanism in case of arch (without mortar).
Three types of mortar mixes were prepared for binding the papercrete
blocks in the wall
1)Cement , Sand and Water (C-S -1:4)
2)Cement, Sand, Water and Paper Pulp (C-S-P -1:4:6)
c)And,lastly,Cement, paper pulp and water (C:P:W-2:4:1).

The last one was found to be most appropriate and it was used for
providing proper strength and bonding in the papercrete masonry.
The major steps for preparation of blocks and related equipment used
are described below:
• IS sieve 4.75mm was used to remove all coarse aggregate from the
sand and soil by temping.
• Shredded newspaper was wetted in water in the curing tank and a
motor run machine called the pulp beater machine was used to
obtain wet paper pulp.
• Next, the soil, sand, pulp and cement were mixed into a more
uniform and consistent mass with help of a cement mixer. The mixer
machine was allowed to work for around 3 to 4 minutes to obtain
papercrete.
• Wooden moulds were prepared in the experiment but acrylic

or plastic sheets can also be used for mould. The moulds were
then greased with burnt oil or taping was done on the moulds
which may help in releasing the blocks quickly and easily.
• The papercrete mix was then poured into moulds and
compacted on a vibrating to remove voids and achieve more
density, resulting in stronger and more durable product.
Temping bar was also used for the same purpose.
• The mix was then leveled to achieve satisfactory dimensions
and finish.
• After 40 hours, papercrete seemed to attain sufficient amount
of strength after which the moulds were released and casted
blocks were allowed to sundry for further strength gain and
development of load carrying capacity.
Water absorption tests

Compressive strength test

Results
• The above lab scale manufactured papercrete blocks were tested

for key properties and following values were obtained.
• Compressive Strength
• Compressive strength tests on 15 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm papercrete
cubes revealed an average compressive strength of 0.57 N/mm2 after
3 days of cube preparation. Other research also suggests similar
results. [1, 5]. For more strength, higher grade of cement can be used.
• Weight and Density
• Density of the material increased with increase in the percentage of
cement in the mixture and reduced with increase in the amount of
the paper in the mixture. Average weight of 8 cubes casted was
observed to be 3.624 kg, thus block density was about 1.07 gm /cc.
This is therefore lightweight in comparison to standard concrete or
brick masonry units.
• Shrinkage
• Shrinkage measured was between 8-9% in each block.
Results (continued)
• Water absorption
• Water absorption of the blocks was about 30% in all cases.
• Drying time
• 40 hours at least are needed for drying of papercrete before it can be
demoulded. After this it should be sundried for 4 days before usage
for better strength. Or it can be placed in oven at nearly 70 °C for 40
hours after casting. Putting it at higher temperature than this can
result into segregation of material.
Pulp beater
Beater machine is a motor run

machine which can be made by
attaching blade to axle of a
vehicle or old car. It helps in
making consistent pup out of
pieces of wet newspaper.
Other equipment needed
• Cement mixer
• Trowel
• Temping rods
• IS sieves -4.75 mm
• Scooper
• Leveler
• Pan
• Vibrating machine
Designing of module
Mold making
Soaking of paper
Making of paper pulp

Temping of soil
Volumetric batching
Compaction
Sundry
Assembly
Main points
• Lack of official guidelines and standard procedure describing the

method of producing papercrete.
• Solution: By initially casting elements and smaller blocks and
elements by varying proportions of constituent elements and
checking their strength by experimentation before casting the final
elements.
• Papercrete is far lighter a material than concrete or wood has good
water absorption and insulation capacity, less shrinkage and is
environment friendly, has high strength to weight ratio.
Although this area requires significant amount of research, but
papercrete can ideally be used for reduction in dead weight of
structural elements in cases where there are no special loads acting on
the element. Also, about 55% of paper waste around the globe still
doesn’t get recycled and is directly disposed and a considerable
portion of it can be used for manufacturing papercrete. Future research
on improving it’s tensile strength can widen up the possibilities of
papercrete using it as a construction worldwide.
Acknowledgments
• We are thankful to our faculties, Mr. Nikunj

Vakani and Mr. Pranav Gajjar for guiding us
through the papercrete workshop. We also
thank the lab assistants at the University for
their support. We acknowledge the efforts
of our team members in this workshop. We
are grateful to Prof. Anal Sheth for her
valuable inputs and motivation throughout
this work.
Thank you. Any questions?

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PAPERCRETE-Towards a new

• Name of the authors: Jil Sheth

• Name of the adviser: Mrs. Anal

• With the ever increasing pace of industrialization,

• But, it is an integral ingredient in the

Papercrete moulds were prepared before hand and ideally

There is a lack of any statistical data recorded regarding the physical

c)And,lastly,Cement, paper pulp and water (C:P:W-2:4:1).

• Wooden moulds were prepared in the experiment but acrylic

Water absorption tests

Compressive strength test

• The above lab scale manufactured papercrete blocks were tested

Beater machine is a motor run

Making of paper pulp

• Lack of official guidelines and standard procedure describing the

• We are thankful to our faculties, Mr. Nikunj

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