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Development of Lightweight Mortars Using Sustainable Low-Density Glass Aggregates from Secondary Raw Materials.
Maximina Romero1, Isabel Padilla1, José Luis García Calvo1
1Eduardo Torroja Institute for Construction Sciences, IETcc, CSIC, 28033 Madrid, Spain.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 28, 2023
Summary
Lightweight expanded glass aggregates (LEGAs) made from recycled glass and waste show promising mechanical properties for use in mortars. These sustainable aggregates offer viable alternatives to traditional materials in construction applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Sustainable Construction
Background:
- Traditional construction materials contribute to environmental concerns.
- Recycling glass cullet and carbonated wastes presents an opportunity for sustainable aggregate production.
- Lightweight aggregates are crucial for reducing the density and improving the performance of cementitious composites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production of lightweight expanded glass aggregates (LEGAs) from glass cullet and carbonated wastes.
- To evaluate the impact of LEGA microstructure and morphology on cement paste adherence and mortar mechanical properties.
- To compare the performance of LEGAs with conventional expanded clay aggregates in lightweight mortars.
Main Methods:
- LEGAs were produced via a thermal impact process using glass cullet and various carbonated wastes.
- Mortars incorporating LEGAs were prepared and cured for 28 days.
- Mechanical properties (flexural and compressive strength) and fracture surface microstructures of the mortars were analyzed.
- Comparison with mortars made using expanded clay aggregates.
Main Results:
- Feasibility of producing glass lightweight aggregate mortar using LEGAs was demonstrated.
- Flexural strength ranged from 5.5 to 8.2 MPa, and compressive strength ranged from 28.1 to 47.6 MPa.
- Mortar performance was linked to LEGA microstructure: porous surfaces (arlite-type) facilitated better interface bonding than non-porous vitreous surfaces.
- Mortars utilizing LEGAs from different wastes achieved strengths comparable to standard lightweight mortars.
Conclusions:
- LEGAs produced from recycled glass and carbonated wastes are a viable option for creating high-performance lightweight mortars.
- The surface characteristics of LEGAs significantly influence their interaction with cement paste and the resulting mechanical strength.
- This study highlights a sustainable approach to aggregate production, offering comparable performance to conventional materials.
Keywords:
LEGAscompressive strengthflexural strengthlightweight expanded glass aggregateslightweight mortarsmicrostructureMore Related Videos
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