Evaluation of gypsum waste for 3D decorative plate production

Abstract

The concern with the amount of plasterboard waste produced during the process of construction and/or renovation, generates interest in studies that evaluate the reuse of this waste, avoiding the inappropriate disposal. In this way the present work has as its main objective to evaluate the use of gypsum waste in the production of 3D decorative plates. The gypsum was recycled through processes of cleaning, crushing, sieving and calcination at different temperatures. Cylindrical specimens and 3D decorative plates were developed with recycled gypsum without calcination and calcined recycled gypsum at temperatures of 150 ºC, 180 ºC and 200 ºC. These specimens were tested for compressive strength (cylindrical specimens) and flexural strength (3D decorative plates) 7 days after modeling. The results showed that there was no difference in compressive strength between recycled gypsum without calcination, recycled gypsum with calcination and natural gypsum. As for the flexural tensile strength, it was observed that the recycled gypsum without calcination had an average value 15% lower than the reference specimens.