Effects of particle size of treated CRT funnel glass on properties of cement mortar

Abstract

Over the last decade, new types of display technologies have increasingly replaced cathode ray tube (CRT) displays leading to an increase in the disposal of discarded old CRT monitors and TV sets. The present study is a further development of our previous work to explore the effects of using different size fractions of crushed CRT glass as 100 % substitution of sand in cement mortar. A range of cement mortar mixes were prepared and the tests conducted included table flow (fluidity), mechanical strength, drying shrinkage, alkali–silica reaction (ASR) expansion and toxicity characteristic leaching procedures. Generally, the results obtained for the CRT glass-based cement mortars were comparable to those of the beverage glass mortars except the hardened density due to the presence of lead in the CRT glass. Decreasing the particle size of the CRT glass led to a decrease in fluidity, compressive strength and water absorption. However, the use of finer glass particles slightly improved the flexural strength and reduced the risk of expansion due to ASR due to its pozzolanic reaction. The experimental results indicated that treated CRT glass can be utilized as 100 % replacement of sand in cement mortar regardless of its particle size.