Mechanical properties of porcelain waste alkali-activated mortar
Rodrigo H. Geraldo,
Luiz F.R. Fernandes,
Gladis Camarini
Affiliations
Rodrigo H. Geraldo
School of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Design, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-889, Brazil; FACENS University, Rodovia Senador José Ermírio de Moraes, 1425, Castelinho Km 1,5, Alto da Boa Vista, Sorocaba, São Paulo, CEP 18087-125, Brazil
Luiz F.R. Fernandes
School of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Design, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-889, Brazil; Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas South (IFSULDEMINAS), Praça Tiradentes, 416, Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais, CEP 37576-000, Brazil
Gladis Camarini
School of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Design, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-889, Brazil; University Center of Minas South (UNIS-MG), Avenida Alzira Barra Gazzola, 650, Bairro Aeroporto, Varginha, Minas Gerais, CEP 37031-099, Brazil; Corresponding author. School of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Design, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-889, Brazil.
Natural sand is extensively used in mortars and concretes as aggregate, and the consumption of this material in construction activities is leading to depletion. This study investigated the use of porcelain waste (PW) that comes from the electrical insulator industry as a replacement of sand in alkali-activated mortar (AAM) production. NaOH and rice husk ash were used to make a sodium silicate which was used as alkali activator, and metakaolin was the aluminosilicate source. Some properties of AAM were evaluated (e.g., workability, compressive and flexural strengths). Results indicated AAM made with PW developed minimum compressive and bond strengths at 28 days of 34 MPa and 1.4 MPa, respectively. PW showed to be a good material to replace natural sand in AAM production, which makes it a feasible alternative to the final disposal of PW generated by electrical insulators industries.
