Improving mortar properties using traditional ceramic materials ground to precisely controlled sizes

The present work investigates the impact of particle size reduction of traditional ceramic materials as partial substitutes for Portland cement in mortars. Ceramic brick, ceramic tile, and stoneware were selected, with three particle sizes (D ₅₀ of 1, 5, and 15 μm) achieved through grinding operations adapted to each material grindability. The reactivity of ceramic powders was assessed via dissolution in saturated lime solution. Mortars were prepared with 10 % and 20 % cement mass replaced by ceramic powders ground to each fineness. The packing density of mortars was evaluated using the Compressible Packing Model. Compressive strength was measured at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days, and pore size distribution was analyzed by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Results indicated that ceramic tile required less grinding energy than brick and stoneware. High-energy grinding slightly altered the crystalline structure and increased amorphous content, enhancing reactivity with lime. Increased cement replacement with finer ceramic powders (D ₅₀ about 1 μm) improved strength, increased mesopores (50 nm), and reduced pore size threshold, attributed to filler and pozzolanic effects. A multiple linear regression model effectively described the influence of various variables on mortar strength with the interaction terms demonstrating the complexity of the interplay of the variables.