Combined Effect of Marble Waste as Powder and Aggregate Form on the Proprieties of the Mortar

Abstract

Recycling and recovery of waste are now considered as a solution for the future to protect the environment. The marble processing workshops on the other hand, generate a large amount of waste in the form of powder and small parts. Due to these facts, the aim of this study is to valorize marble waste in the form of powder and crushed aggregates (sand) as additions in cementitious matrix building materials. The characterization of the materials used to formulate mortars based on natural dune sand with marble powder and mortars based on mixed sand (dunes sand and crushed sand) and marble powder was measure. In this sense, several series have been studied, varying the addition rate of the marble powder in order to reduce the porosity of the cement matrix, using crushed marble sand to increase the granular cohesion and using of a reducing water admixture (MEDAPLAST SP40) for more performance mortars. Very appreciable results were observed for a dosage of 15% of marble powder and for the combination of 15% of marble powder with 20% of crushed marble sand. This research recommends recycling 35% of marble waste in the cement matrix that contribute effectively to the preservation of the environment.