Gypsum is one of the important construction materials in Iraq in plastering surfaces and gypsum board , the ability of gypsum to give a comfortable an aesthetic ambiance as a construction material increase the need of gypsum , The particle size , total surface area and particle size distribution were factors affecting plaster properties used for construction properties . In this study gypsum paste was used with different mixing ratios of particle size and studied the physical properties of these types of pastes named (standard consistency ,setting time ,density) and compressive strength . The results showed that the water to gypsum ratio increased with increasing the fineness of the gypsum to (0.75%) and the setting time to the maximum allowed according to the Iraqi standard (25 minute) when the distribution of particle size between (600-75) microns . Thus ,superplasticizer was used in more fine paste types .There is a direct relationship between setting time and the water to gypsum ratio ,but the setting time decreasing with increasing the fineness of the gypsum when the distribution of particle size between (300-75) microns. There is also a direct relationship between density and gypsum fineness . In terms of compressive resistance , it increases slightly when the particle size distribution is between (900-75) μm and increases significantly (40-42)% relatively to the reference paste with particle size distribution (300-75) μm and superplasticizer additive .Compression strength is also affected by the water to gypsum ratio ,there is an inverse relationship between them.
