Comparative Analysis of Waste Materials for Their Potential Utilization in Green Concrete Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Solid waste utilization is crucial for sustainability.
• Waste glass powder and silica fumes are significant global waste materials.
• These materials possess pozzolanic properties beneficial for construction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physico-chemical, thermal, and morphological properties of waste glass powder and silica fumes.
• To assess their suitability as partial cement replacements in concrete.
• To evaluate the impact of these replacements on concrete's mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• Physico-chemical, thermal, and morphological analyses of waste powders.
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to study chemical bonding.
• Compressive strength, slump, and flexural strength tests on concrete mixtures with 5-15% cement replacement by waste glass powder at 7 and 28 days curing ages.

Main Results:

• Waste glass powder and silica fumes demonstrate suitable pozzolanic and basic properties for concrete applications.
• FTIR analysis revealed characteristic O-Si-O bond vibrations, indicating pozzolanic activity.
• Concrete mixtures with partial cement replacement showed promising mechanical performance.

Conclusions:

• Waste glass powder and silica fumes can be effectively utilized as partial cement replacements in concrete.
• The use of these waste materials contributes to the development of sustainable green concrete.
• Further research can optimize the replacement percentages for enhanced concrete performance.