Artificial stone slab production using waste glass, stone fragments and vacuum vibratory compaction

Abstract

In this research, waste glass and stone fragments from stone slab processing are recycled as raw materials for making artificial stone slabs using vibratory compaction in a vacuum environment. Waste glass powder (40%) and fine granite aggregates (60%) are mixed with unsaturated polymer resins (8%) as binder. Under compaction pressure of 14.7 MPa, vibration frequency of 33.3 Hz and vacuum condition at 50 mm Hg, artificial stone slabs with high compressive strength of 148.8 MPa, water absorption below 0.02%, density of 2.445, and flexural strength of 51.1 MPa are obtained after 2 min compaction. The artificial stone slabs fabricated in this study prove to be superior to natural construction slabs in terms of strength and water absorption.