Factors influencing strength of magnesium oxychloride cement

•Influence of different variables on the flow, compressive strength and flexure strength of MOC were evaluated.•Five different types of locally available sands were used for preparing MOC mortars.•The strengths developed at 1, 3, and 7-day were used for the analysis.•The study suggests that the purity of MgCl2 has insignificant influence on strength development in MOC.•Concentration of MgCl2 solution is a prime factor governing the strength of MOC. In this paper, the influence of different variables such as calcination temperature of MgO, purity of MgCl2, quantity and concentration (on Baume scale) of MgCl2 solution, quantity and type of inert filler material (sands) on the performance in terms of flow, compressive strength, and flexure strength of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) were evaluated. The strengths developed at 1, 3, and 7-day were used to analyze the influences. The study reveals that the degree of calcination of MgO, the concentration of MgCl2 solution (°Be), fineness of inert material, are the key factors controlling strength development in MOC. The study further suggests that the purity of MgCl2 has insignificant influence on strength development in MOC.