Properties of eco-friendly cement mortar contained recycled materials from different sources

Building materials such as sand, cement, bricks, and steel are usually the main components of the construction sector. All these materials are produced from existing natural resources and they will cause substantial damage to the environment as a result of their continuous depletion. Moreover, during the manufacture of various building materials, especially cement, a high concentration of carbon dioxide is constantly emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, to reduce this environmental damage as well as to save natural resources, this study was performed to recycle the wastes of some of building materials such as marble, granite and porcelain tiles and clay brick through using them as cement and aggregate replacement materials in cement mortar. Sixteen mixtures were cast for this study. In addition to the control, the mortar mixes were divided into five groups, three mixes in each group. In four of the five groups, cement was replaced in three proportions (5%, 10%, 15% by weight) with each of marble, granite, porcelain and clay brick waste powders (passing through 150-μm sieve). The fifth group included 100% replacing (by weight) of the natural sand with the marble, granite and porcelain tiles wastes (with a comparable gradation). The influence of these wastes on flow rate, compressive strength, flexural strength, bulk density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and water absorption tests were observed. Results showed that it is possible to produce an eco-friendly mortar made with 100% recycled marble or porcelain aggregate with a significant improvement in the mechanical and durability properties in comparison with natural aggregate mortar.