Elaboration of recycled concrete sand aggregates-based mortars: An alternative recycling process

Abstract

This research work focused on the viability and valuation of recycled concrete sand aggregates (RCSAs) in the preparation of mortars. An alternative recycling process was proposed to improve the physical and mechanical properties of RCSAs-based mortars and thus promote the efficient use of demolition concrete waste in construction. Elaborated RCSAs-based mortars were obtained with 50% and 100% volume substitution of natural sand coupled with 20% natural perlite. Mortars physical, mechanical and durability properties were monitored and analyses were performed using thermo-gravimetric and differential thermo-gravimetric together with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. The collected experimental results clearly exhibited improvement and good interaction between the cement matrix and sand in RCSAs-based mortars. Comparisons of laboratory results highlighted the effectiveness of the alternative recycling method in both enhancing the composition quality and substantially improving the inherent mechanical performance of RCSAs-based mortars as well as offering advantages over natural sand-based mortars and those available in the literature on the same topics.