Comparative Effects of Cassava Starch and Simple Sugar in Cement Mortar and Concrete

Comparative effects of simple laboratory quality sugar and cassava starch on grade C35 concrete were studied in the laboratory. The simple white sugar was used at concentrations of 0 to 1% by weight of cement in concrete cured at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days using ordinary Portland cement. Cassava starch of the same concentration by weight of cement was used in concrete. The compressive strength results showed some marginal strength gains at all ages but peaks at 11.84% at 3 days at 0.05% sugar concentration. The maximum short term strength gain for cassava starch is 22.60% at 3 days at 0.1% starch concentration; and like the case of sugar this short term strength gain was not sustained at 28 days. At 28 days, there was a maximum strength increase of 7.80% with 0.05% cassava starch concentration. For simple sugar the maximum strength increase at 28 days was 3.62% at sugar concentration of 0.06%.Keywords: Cassava starch, sugar, compressive strength, concrete