International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)

Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798

PAPERCRETE
M.Manoj Kumar1, G.Uma Maheshwari2
1
Asst Professor,CIVIL, Dr.KV Subba Reddy College Of Engineering For Women,Kurnool,Andhrapradesh,India.
2
Asst Professor,CIVIL , Dr.KV Subba Reddy College Of Engineering For Women,Kurnool,Andhrapradesh,India.

ABSTRACT:
The majority of abandoned paper waste
accumulating from the countries all over the world
causes certain serious environmental problems. The
high volume of concrete offers a holistic solution to
the problem of meeting the increasing demands for
concrete in the future in a sustainable manner and
at a reduced cost.At the same time, it is necessary to
reduce the environmental impact of industries that
are vital to economic development.The present study
focuses on utilizing the waste materials like waste
paper and fly ash into cost effective building bricks
and recycle the wastepaper without any
environmental problem to the surrounding
environment and the society.
The investigation was carried out to
evaluate the strength, durability and structural
properties of flyash based Paper Crete building
bricks.Then the results were compared with those of
conventional bricks. The strength and durability of
cement composites containing waste paper and fly
ash have been studied in detail and the optimum
mix proportions have been obtained. This optimum
mix was considered for casting the fly ash based
paper Crete bricks and their properties have been
studied.
The thesis concluded that the Paper Crete
bricks are relatively low cost, light weight and more
flexible and they are most suitable for
earthquakeprone areas. This brick does not expand
or contract so that the sheets of glassor glass block
can be embedded and trimmed with Paper Crete.
However, uncoated bricks are not suitable for water
logging and external walls; they can be used in
inner partition walls.
IndexTerms:papercrete,Materials
&properties,Curving of cubes
I.INTRODUCTION
 Papercrete is a new composite material
using waste paper as a partial
replacement of Portland cement.
 Papercrete is a recently developed
construction material which consists of re-
pulped paper fiber with Portland cement.
 Papercrete is a construction material which
consists of cement and fine aggregate.It is
perceived as an environmental friendly
material due to the significant recycled
content, by the presence of cement.
It is a construction material which consists of
paper slurry, white lime and Portland cement.This
increase in the popularity of using environmental
friendly, low-cost and light weight construction
materials in building industry has brought about the
need to investigate how this can be achieved by
benefiting the environment as well as maintaining the
material requirements affirmed in the standards.As
natural sources of aggregates are becoming
exhausted, it turns out urgent to develop. The
majority of abandoned paper waste is accumulated
from the countries all over the world causes certain
serious environmental problems.It is an important
building material that is light weight, insulate and
low cost concrete.It is cost-effective, relies on locally
available materials, but it is insect free, fire resistant,
durable and great potential as a low carbon building
material.Papercrete, known by alternative names such
as fibrous concrete, padobe and fidobe, low carbon
construction material, 45% of discarded papers is
recycled annually; 55%thrown away or goes in to the
land fill.
 Therefore efforts have been made to utilize
the waste paper in to concrete and form a
Paper Crete.
 Papercrete is mould resistant and has the
ability to absorb energy and can be used in

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 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
many applications requiring sound-proofing
material.
 Also, Papercrete blocks won’t deteriorate if
left out in the rain, since the paper fibers
bind the blocks together.
 The strength of Papercrete as engineering
materials appears to lie in their ability to
absorb energy and can be used in many
applications requiring sound absorption and
fire resistance.
 Papercrete is an amazing, simple material
gaining acceptance over the last decade by
alternative builders, and even code officials
across the US.
 It's almost free to build with and there are
MANY versions, and some do not include
the cement, creating a "paper adobe" safe to
handle with bare hands.
 This material is easy to sculpt with, make
blocks, use as a mortar, a plaster for walls,
as floors, as wall insulation, as roofing
insulation, for arches, privacy walls, and
garden walls, patio floors, used for animal
shelters, for dog houses, and children’s
playhouses too.
 Start with a small sculpting project, or
insulate your pet's outdoor shelter, maybe
insulated the garage walls.
 Papercrete can be stunning or a horrible
mess and it all depends on the detail and
attention you pay.
 When used as insulation no one will see it.
As adobe blocks they can look like stacked
stone, or if crooked and ill-placed, a drying, but adding paper fiber to the earth mix
plaster coat can make the wall as smooth as
you want. Your creativity is unlimited.
1.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF BRICKS
 All over the world, bricks are the most widely
used construction materials for the construction
of buildings.
 The bricks are obtained by moulding clay in
blocks of uniform size and then by drying
and burning the blocks.
 As the bricks are of uniform size, they can be
properly arranged.
 The common brick is one of the oldest building
materials and it is extensively used at present as
a leading material in construction.
All Rights Reserved © 2017 IJSETR
Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798
 In India, the process of brick making has not
changed since many centuries except in some
minor refinements.
 There has been hardly any effort in our country
to improve the brick-making process for
enhancing the quality of bricks.
 Also the structures in view of their compressive
strength, structural stability and relative low cost
have not undergone any drastic change.
 But it has two major drawbacks, namely self-
weight and brittleness.
1.3 INNOVATION OF PAPER CRETE
Papercrete is a material originally developed 80
years ago but it is only recently
rediscovered.Papercrete is a fibrous cementious
compound comprising waste paper and Portland
cement.These two components are blended with
water to create a paper cement pulp, which can then
be poured into a mould, allowed to dry and be
utilized as a durable building material.It should be
noted that Paper Crete is a relatively new concept
with limited scope.Papercrete has threederivatives,
namely fibrous concrete, padobe and fidobe.The
fibrous concrete is a mixture of paper, Portland
cement and water.There are no harmful by-products
or excessive energy use in the production of
Papercrete.Padobehas noPortland cement. It is a mix
of paper, water and earth with clay. Here clay is the
binding material.Instead of using thecement, earth is
used in this type of brick.This earth should have clay
content of more than 30%.With regular brick, ifhe
clay content is too high the brick may crack while
strengthens thedrying block.It gives flexibility which
helps to prevent cracking.Fidobe is like padobe, but it
may contain other fibrousmaterial.
II. MATERIALS & PROPERTIES
The constituents used in preparing the
Papercrete mixtures and their properties.To attain
these goals, materials were collected from various
sources. Material collection is the basic and
important step in any project. Yet, the material that is
used in a project should not cause any damage to the
environment.
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The various materials include:
 ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT
 FLYASH
 FINE AGGREGATE
 COARSE AGGREGATE
 PAPER
 WATER
Ordinary Portland Cement (53 GRADE)
 The Portland cement was invented by John
Aspidin which is fine gray powder.
 Among the various kinds cement it is the
most commonly used as binding material. It
is a mixture of chalk or limestone together
with clay.
 Cement is a binder, a substance used in
construction that sets, hardens and adheres to
other materials, binding them together.
 Cement is seldom used solely, but is used to
bind sand and gravel (aggregate) together.
 Cement is used with fine aggregate to
produce mortar for masonry, or with sand and
gravel aggregates to produce concrete.
 In India are manufactured the three grades of
OPC, namely 33grade, 43 grade and 53
grade. As per the standard testing procedure,
the compressive strength of cement will be
obtained after 28days.
Figure 2.1-CEMENT FLYASH
 Fly ash, is also known as fuel-ash, is one of
the residues generated in combustion, and
comprises the fine particles that rise with the
flue gases.
All Rights Reserved © 2017 IJSETR
Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798
 In an industrial context, fly ash usually
refers to ash produced during combustion
of coal. Fly ash is generally captured
by electrostatic precipitators or other particle
filtration equipment before the flue gases
reach the chimneys of coal-fired power
plants, and together with bottom
ash removed from the bottom of the furnace
is in this case jointly known as coal ash.
 Depending upon the source and process of
the coal being burned, the components of fly
ash vary considerably, but all fly ash
includes substantial amounts of silicon
dioxide (SiO2) and calcium oxide (CaO),
both being endemic ingredients in many
coal-bearing rock strata.
 Fly ash often replaces up to 30% by mass of
Portland cement, but can be used in higher
dosages in certain applications.
 In some cases, fly ash can add to the
concrete's final strength and increase its
chemical resistance and durability.
 Cement production requires huge amounts
of energy and Partial replacement of cement
with fly ash is economical. In the case of
mass concreting and large scale works, it is
proved to be most economical.
 It is practically revealed that up to 40 to
50% cement replaced and the designed
strengths are achieved
Figure 2.2- FLYASH FINE AGGREGATE
Concrete produced from a mixture of fine
aggregate (sand), a binder (cement), and water. Fine-
aggregate concrete is similar to building mortars in
its composition and certain properties. The sand
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particle consists of small grains of silica (SiO2). It is COARSE AGGREGATE

formed by the decomposition of sand stones due to
various effects of weather.According to the natural  Locally available crushed blue granite stones
resources from which the sand is obtained.The conforming to graded aggregate of nominal
absence of coarse aggregate (crushed stone or gravel) size 12.5 mm as per IS: 383 –1970.
substantially facilitates the preparation, transport, and  Crushed granite aggregate with specific
placing of the concrete, particularly when concrete gravity of 2.77 and passing through 4.75 mm
pumps are used.A disadvantage of fine-aggregate sieve and will be used for casting all
concrete is the increased consumption of binder specimens.
compared to other types of concrete and the  Several investigations concluded that
associated greater shrinkage and creep.The quantity maximum size of coarse aggregate should be
of binder in the concrete can be reduced by restricted in strength of the composite.
pulverizing some of the sand, by the use of  In addition to cement paste – aggregate ratio,
plasticizers, or by autoclaving of products.The sand aggregate type has a great influence on
which was locally available and passing through concrete dimensional stability
4.75mm IS sieve is used. The specific gravity of Fine
aggregate was 2.60.
 The sand particle consists of small grains of
silica (SiO2).
 It is formed by the decomposition of sand
stones due to various effects of weather.
 According to the natural resources from
which the sand is obtained, it is termed as
Pit sand, River sand and Sea sand.
 According to the size of grains, the sand is
classified as fine, coarse and gravel.
 The properties were studied as per BIS
standard. Figure 2.4 -COARSE AGGREGATE

PAPER

Paper is a natural polymer which consists of

wood cellulose, which is the most abundant organic
compound in the planet.Cellulose is made of units of
monomer glucose (polysaccharide).The links in the
cellulose chain are a type of sugar as ß-D-glucose.
Despite containing several hydroxyl groups, cellulose
is water insoluble.
The reason is the stiffness of the chains and hydrogen
bonding between two OH groups on adjacent chains.
The chains pack regularly in places to form hard,
stable crystalline regions that give the bundled chains
even more stability and strength.
This hydrogen bonding is the basis of papercrete
Figure 2.3-SAND strength.
By applying a force on the paper the hydrogen bond
between the water and the cellulose molecule is
broken. Coating cellulose fibers with Portland cement
creates a cement matrix, which encases the fibers for

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 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798

extra strength to the mix.The links in the cellulose
chain are a type of sugar: ß-D-glucose and the
cellulose chain bristles with polar -OH groups.
These groups form many hydrogen bonds with
OH groups on adjacent chains, bundling the chains
together. Viewed under a microscope, it is possible to
see a network of cellulose fibers and smaller
offshoots from the fibers called fibril which becomes
coated with Portland cement. When these networks
or matrices of fibers and fibrils dry, they intertwine
and cling together with the power of the hydrogen
bond.
1. Dry the flask carefully and fill with kerosene or
naphthalene point on the stem between 0
to1ml.
2. Record the level of the liquid in the flask as
initial reading.
3. Put a weighted quantity of cement(about60gm)
in to the flask so that level of kerosene rise to
about 22ml mark, care being taken to avoid
splashing and to see that cement does not
adhere to the sides of the above the liquid.
4. After putting all the cement in the flask, roll the
flask gently in an inclined position to expel air
until no further air bubbler is set to the surface
of the liquid.

CALCULATIONS

Specific gravity of cement (G)=

𝑊2−𝑊1
𝑊2−𝑊1 − 𝑊3−𝑊4 0.79

Figure 5-PAPER
W1 = weight of empty bottle
WATER
W2 = weight of empty bottle + weight of
 Water is an important ingredient of
weight of cement
papercrete as it actively participates in the
chemical reaction with cement. W3 = weight of empty bottle + weight of
 Water should be free from organic matter and cement +weight of kerosene
the pH value should be between 6 and 7.
W4 = weight of empty bottle + weight of
kerosene
123 .5−63.5
G= = 2.34
123 .5−63.5 − 184 −140 .5 ∗0.79

RESULT:

The Specific Gravity of cement, G = 2.3

III. SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF CEMENT

A. NORMAL CONSISTENCY OF CEMENT
To determine the specific gravity of cement
we require CementLechaterlier’s flask,Weighing PURPOSE
balance,Kerosene.

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 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798

The purpose of this test is to find out the percentage

by weight of water of water to be added to cement to
make a paste of standard consistency.

CONSISTENCY

A certain minimum quantity of water is required to

be mixed with cement so as to complete chemical
reaction between water and cement, less water than
this quantity would not complete chemical reaction
thus resulting in reduction of strength and more water
would increase water -cement ratio and so would
reduce its strength .So correct proportion of water to
cement is required to be known to achieve proper
strength while using cement in structure. This can be
found out knowing standard consistency of cement
paste.

B.STANDARD CONSISTENCY (OR) NORMAL

CONSISTENCY Figure 3.1VICAT’S APPARATUS AND ITS
DIMENSIONS
Standard consistency of cement paste is defined as
that consistency which permits the vicat plunger to PROCEDURE
penetrate to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom of
1) Take a sample of cement 400gm. Weigh it
the vicatmould in this test. It is expressed as amount
correctly.
of water as a percentage (by weight) of dry cement.
2) Add 25% of water i.e. 75ml to the cement and
Standard consistency is also called normal
mix it thoroughly, to make a cement paste.
consistency.
3) Place the vicat mould on a non- porous plate,
GAUGING TIME fill the mould with cement paste, smooth off the
surface of the paste making it level it on the top
It is period observed from the time water is added to of the mould. To expel air shake the mould
cement for making cement paste till commencing the slightly. Generally the gauging time should be
filling of mould of vicat apparatus, in this test. between 3 to 5 minutes. While filling the
mould, use of operators hand and blade of
1) A vicat apparatus with plunger 10mm diameter trowel should only be used.
2) Weighing balance. 4) Place the test block in the mould together with
3) Trowel weighing 210g 10g. the non- porous plate, under the rod bearing the
4) Measuring glass 200ml. 10mm diameter plunger gently to touch the
5) Clean platform to make cement paste. surface of the test block and quickly release,
allowing it to sink into the cement paste. Carry
this operation immediately after filling the
MATERIALS
mould .Note the penetration of the needle from
a) Cement 400 Grams. the bottom of mould indicated on the scale.
b) Water. 5) Prepare trial paste with varying percentage of
water, increasing water percentage by 2% each
time, until the amount of water necessary is
determined.

CALCULATIONS

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 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR)
Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798

Quantity of cement = 400grams

Amount of water used = 25% of cement

29
= ∗ 400
100

= 100ml

RESULT

The percentage by weight of water with respect to

cement to produce standard consistency is

= 29 %

IV. RESULTS

CURING OF CUBES
Figure4.1– AIR DRY CURING
Curing can be described as keeping the concrete
moist and warm enough so that the hydration of COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST
cement can continue. More elaborately, it can be
 Compression test is the main and important test
described as the process of maintaining a satisfactory
for bricks.
moisture content and a favorable temperature in
 This test was carried out by a Compression
concrete during the period immediately following
Testing Machine
placement, so that hydration of cement may continue
 This test was carried out on the 18th day from the
until the desired properties are developed to a
date of casting of brick.
sufficient degree to meet the requirement of service.
 The Figure shows the compression test being
If curing is neglected in the early period of
done.
hydration, the quality of concrete will experience a
 The bricks were then tested under a uni-axial
sort of irreparable loss. Curing of cubes can be done
compressive force using 100 tonne compression
by two methods. They are
testing machine.
 While testing the brick, great care must be taken,
1. Wet Curing
because papercrete bricks never failed
2. Dry Curing
catastrophically, it just compressed like
squeezing rubber.
 In preparation of papercrete we use dry  Even though the brick failed at the higher load,
curing( Air dry curing) the structure did not collapse.
 Only the outer faces cracked and peeled out So
the papercrete bricks showed elastic behaviour
and less brittleness.

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Table 4- PAPERCRETE PROPERTIES
Raw materials are very inexpensive and
freely available.Equipment used is relatively low-
tech and inexpensive.It is dimensionally very
stable.Compressive strength of 0.99-1.12 Mpa.It has
excellent heat and sound insulating properties.Paper
Crete is light weight and can be used to make
inexpensive roofing alternatives.Paper Crete is very
workable and can be formed into different shapes
such as blocks, panels and sheets with ease.
V.CONCLUSION
 we conclude that density of the Paper Crete
is less than the ordinary bricks density.
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Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798
 The Constructions done by the Paper Crete
are Very light in weight so in earth quake
regions these are very helpful by reducing
the life losses and the property losses.
 Because of the cheapest construction by this
Paper Crete poor people will construct
easily.
 Thus we can use the Paper Crete for inner
wall construction in place of bricks which
has high density, thereby they increase the
dead weight of the structure which is
reduced by using Paper Crete.
The thesis concluded that the Paper Crete
bricks are relatively low cost, light weight and
more flexible and they are most suitable for
earthquakeprone areas. This brick does not
expand or contract so that the sheets of glassor
glass block can be embedded and trimmed with
Paper Crete. However, uncoated bricks are not
suitable for water logging and external walls;
they can be used in inner partition walls.
VI.REFERENCES
1.Building With Papercrete And Paper Adobe (A
Revolutionary New Way To Build Your Own Home
For Next To Nothing) By Gordon Solberg.
2..Concrete Technology by M.S.SHETTY
3. Ahmadi, B. and Al-Khaja, M. “Utilization of paper
waste sludge in the building construction industry”,
Resources Conservation & Recycling, Vol. 32, No. 2,
pp. 105-113, 2001.
4. Algin Halil Murat and Turgut Paki, “Cotton and
limestone powder wastes as brick material”,
Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 22, No. 6,
pp. 1074-1080, 2008.
5. Akhtar, J.N., Alam, J. and Akhtar, M.N. “Bricks
with Total Replacement of Clay by Flyash mixed
with different Materials”, International Journal of
Engineering Science and Technology, Vol. 3, No. 10,
pp. 7338-7346, 2011.
6. Andreas Stavridis and Shing, P.B. “Finite-Elemnt
Modelling of Nonlinear Behavior of Masonry-Infilled
RC Frames”, Journal of Structural Engineering
ASCE, Vol. 136, No. 3, pp. 285-296, 2010.
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Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2017, ISSN: 2278 -7798

7. Asteris, P.G. “Lateral Stiffness of Brick Masonry

Infilled Plane Frames”, Journal of Structural
Engineering ASCE, Vol. 129, No. 8, pp. 1071-1079,
2003.
8. ASTM C67 – 94, “Standard test methods of
sampling and testing brick and structural clay tile”,
American Society for Testing and Materials,
Retrieved 2008.
9. ASTM C618 – 08, “Standard Specification for
Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural
Pozzolana for Use in Concrete”, American Society
for Testing and Materials, Retrieved 2008.

BIODATA

Author

M.Manoj Kumar M.Tech(structural engg) Presently

working as Assistant Professor in CIVIL Dept
,Dr.KV Subba Reddy College Of Engineering For
Women, kurnool AndhraPradesh, India.

CoAuthor

G.Uma Maheswari M.Tech(structural engg)

Presently working as Assistant Professor in CIVIL
Dept,Dr.KV Subba Reddy College Of
Engineering For Women, kurnool AndhraPradesh,
India.

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