The effect of replacing sand with aggregate from sanitary ceramic waste on the durability of stucco mortars

• Published in: Clean technologies and environmental policy 2020-11, Vol.22 (9), p.1929-1941
• Main Authors: Klimek, Beata, Szulej, Jacek, Ogrodnik, Paweł
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Admixtures; Capillarity; Ceramics industry; Compressive strength; Concrete mixes; Construction industry; Copolymers; Corrosion prevention; Corrosion resistance; Crystallization; Earth and Environmental Science; Energy conservation; Environment; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental policy; Environmental protection; Flexural strength; Frost; Frost resistance; Hydrophobicity; Impact analysis; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Landfills; Methylcellulose; Mortars (material); Original Paper; Parameters; Physical properties; Porosity; Property; Recycling; Resistance; Salts; Sand; Sustainable Development; Vinyl acetate; Waste disposal sites; Wastes
• ISSN: 1618-954X; 1618-9558
• DOI: 10.1007/s10098-020-01932-w

During processing and transport, the ceramic industry generates big amounts of waste. In order to limit the number of landfills and to minimise consequences of such waste that is clearly noxious for the environment, this industry remains under great pressure to find effective recycling methods for its waste and by-products. What is more, given the limited resources of traditional aggregate, energy savings and protection of the environment, the construction industry is seeking for new sources of aggregate. For this reason, ceramic waste is increasingly frequently used as coarse and fine aggregate, both in mortars and in concrete mixtures. The goal of studies presented in the paper was to analyse the impact of recycled ceramic aggregate on the frost and salt spray resistance of stucco mortar used in the construction industry. Mortar recipes also contained admixtures that modify properties of the mixture and of the hardened product, such as copolymer of vinyl acetate and methylcellulose with a hydrophobic admixture. Elementary testing was performed related to mechanical and physical parameters of mortars. Among others tests were carried out of compressive strength and flexural strength, a determination was made of density, open and total porosity, absorbability, resistance to salt spray corrosion and frost resistance after 25 freeze–thaw cycles of samples. Replacement of sand by recycled ceramic aggregate causes a change in physical parameters of mortars. It has a positive impact on strength parameters of mortars with concurrent reduction in absorbability and capillary action. Testing of mortar with the addition of ceramic aggregate has proved better frost resistance and resistance to salt crystallisation as compared to mortar to which sand had been added. Graphic abstract