Precast architectural tiles produced by double-layer casting method

Abstract

This work aims to develop a technology with an instant demoulding ability for making precast architectural tiles with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. To achieve this, double-layer composite consisting of a wet-mixed self-compacting glass mortar as the surface-layer and a dry-mixed mortar as the base-layer was designed. The performance of the surface-layer prepared with recycled glass cullet with different particle sizes, and the effects of aggregate types and contents on the base-layer mortar were investigated. The results suggest that the non-porous nature and smooth surface of the glass cullet decreased the water absorption and reduced the strength of the mortars. The flexural and pull-out strength results demonstrated that all the architectural tiles produced exhibited good interfacial adhesion between the two layers and complied with the standard requirements for “Terrazzo tiles” for internal and external applications.