Modify the properties of earth materials with biological additives

Abstrakt

In this thesis, the influence of two biological additives, the casein and the tannin, on the properties of earth materials will be explored and the reaction conditions of the two substances will be determined. More precisely, the workability, the strength and the water resistance of eight different samples will be measured, to determine which tannin to casein ratio, as well as which type of tannin and which of the chemical used to dissolve the casein give the best improvement. The samples will be made mixing clay, sand, water, casein solution and tannin solution together and casting the paste in rectangular moulds to produce bars, on which the tests will be run. Finally, some rheology tests will be made on the fresh paste to try to understand better the influence of casein and tannin on it.