Sustainable Production of Roofing Tiles Using Glycerine Pitch as An Alternative Binder

Abstract

A large quantity of glycerine pitch (GP) generated from the oleo-chemical industry has led to significant environmental issues when it is disposed of without proper treatment. This study investigated the possibility of utilizing glycerine pitch as an alternative binder in the production of roofing tile, namely GP-RT. The percentage of GP incorporated by weight of tile ranges from 3 – 9 %. A transverse strength test was performed on the tiles in dry and wet conditions to investigate their durability in harsh conditions. A water absorption test was performed to determine the water uptake of the tiles produced. The specimen with the greatest flexural strength was achieved when 7% of GP was utilized. The mechanical properties of the tile can be enhanced when GP was mixed with a similar amount of used cooking oil (UCO), which achieved the greatest strength (4389 N and 9.48 MPa) when 5% of GP and 5% of UcO were used for the tile’s production. The water resistivity of the tiles can be enhanced by the coating process. The lowest percentage of water absorption (2.82%) and the greatest wet transverse strength (2746 N) were achieved when the tile was coated with a layer of UCO via the immersion method. Conclusively, the full replacement of cement with GP as an alternative binder is possible. The incorporation of multiple waste materials (GP, UCO, and fly ash) in tile production is a feasible attempt to reduce the disposal of these waste materials to landfills, thus preserves a greener environment for future generations.