PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL STONE SLABS USING WASTE GRANITE AND MARBLE STONE SLUDGE SAMPLES

Abstract

In this work, the waste stone sludge obtained from the granite and marble stone processing factories was used for the manufacture of artificial stones using vibratory compaction in a vacuum environment. The results obtained showed that water absorption and density increased, and the flexure, compressive, and tensile strengths decreased with increase in the content of the waste stone sludge. These results also demonstrated that by combining 50% of stone sludge, 12% of ground quartz, 25% of waste glass, and 13% of resin at a compaction pressure of 12 MPa, a vibration frequency of 30 Hz, and vacuum conditions at 50 mm Hg, artificial stone slabs with a water absorption less than 0.64, a density less than 2.68, a flexure strength more than 45 MPa, a compressive strength more than 90 MPa, and a tensile strength more than 35 MPa can be obtained. The artificial stone slabs obtained in this research work had good density and water absorption, and flexure, compressive, and tensile strengths compared to the natural stones, and thus they can be regarded as the ideal construction materials for covering walls or paving floors.