Recycled Glass Cullet as Fine Aggregate and Partial Cement Replacement in Concrete

Abstract

Utilisation of recycled glass cullet in concrete has obvious benefits with respect to environmental conservation and sustainable development. The problems of rising landfills can be reduced. Reduction of primary aggregates for concrete where alternative materials would suffice can also be fulfilled. Glass also contains large amounts of silicon and calcium which means that in theory, is pozzolanic. However, the possibility of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) due to the presence of silica must also be addressed. Tests were performed to investigate the suitability of using cullet in concrete. A sieve analysis was performed to determine the size distribution of the cullet and provided basis to the range of samples that could be cast. Using cullet as partial replacement aggregate in concrete has resulted in minor increases in concrete consistence (workability) and minor reductions in compressive strength. When ground glass cullet (GGC) was used as 30% partial cement replacement, the consistence increased considerably, whilst the later age compressive strength was close or higher (depending on the mix proportions used) compared to the corresponding control mixes, which did not have GGC incorporation. The early age strength was lower and strength development was slower at early ages further suggesting likelihood of pozzolanic activity. Accelerated ASR tests have shown the occurrence of ASR in concrete mixes using cullet as replacement aggregate to be more than control mixes which used conventional aggregate. The magnitude of ASR was also found to be colour dependant-green coloured cullet resulted in less expansion than when using amber cullet. Qualitative microstructural analysis of specimen micrographs recorded in Secondary Electron Imaging (SEI) mode using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) have shown that mortar specimens using cullet displayed more cracking at longer curing periods. Cracks propagated from, and surrounded the glass particles, further suggesting the occurrence of ASR activity. Depending on size classification used, glass cullet can therefore be recommended to be used as partial aggregate replacement and partial cement replacement in concrete. The possibility of durability attack due to ASR reaction must however be taken into consideration.