Positive impact of ultra fine-ceramic waste on the physico-mechanical features and microstructure of white cement pastes composites

Abstract

In our present work, the impact of ceramic wastes (CW) on chemical, physicomechanical properties and microstructure of blended white cement (WC) was studied. In ceramic plants around 31% of production was going as industrial wastes with negative environmental impact. These wastes could be recycled then substituted from WC for production of green environment and the mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions. Ceramic wastes (CW) were act as silicate source to enhance performance of WC additionally, act as filler with nucleating side effect. Ceramic wastes (CW) are crushed and milled till reaching to micro- particles called “ultra-fine ceramic wastes”. Different ratios of CW (1, 3 and 5 wt, % by weight of binder) were substituted from WC meanwhile, physico-mechanical properties such as compressive strength, water absorption, whiteness reflection and setting time were evaluated. The results showed that, WC-pastes which containing 1 wt., % of CW (MW1-mix) have the highest compressive strength, shortest setting time and marginally decreasing in whiteness reflection as well as decrement in water absorption, comparing with other pastes which containing 5 wt.,% of CW (MW5-mix) and control sample (M0) at all ages of hydration. These results confirmed by using x-ray diffractograms (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. These results proved that, MW1-mix with excessive hydration products, filling open pores as nucleation effect yielding densification of microstructure.