Abstract
This research aims to design and characterize plaster mortars based on perlite and lime produced in Ecuador, with a minimum compressive strength of 6.89 MPa, as established by IRC 2018, to be applied on rice straw panels. For this purpose, two standard mixes are designed. In the first, sand is used as fine aggregate, while in the second, perlite is used. Eight additional mixes are obtained from each one, where cement is replaced by lime (in volume) in different percentages. A total of 270 test specimens were made to evaluate the compressive strength and density of the mortars at 1, 3, 7, 28, and 50 days. The mortar made with perlite, comprising 50% lime, 50% cement, and an additive, reached a resistance of 7.22 MPa, with a density of 1.45 g/cm³. When this mixture was applied to the rice straw panels, it resulted in an increase of up to 68% in their compressive strength.