Characterization of Gypsum Composites Containing Cigarette Butt Waste for Building Applications

Abstract

Cigarette butts are one of the most common waste on the planet and are not biodegradable, so they remain on the landscape for many years. Cigarette butt composition makes it suitable to be added during the manufacture of construction materials, so it can be considered a waste recovery material, helping to reduce the ecological footprint of the construction sector. This article shows the characterization of gypsum composites containing cigarette butt waste. Several gypsum specimens were prepared incorporating different percentages of cigarette butt waste (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5%). Samples without waste additions were also prepared in order to compare the results obtained. Samples were tested for density, superficial hardness, flexural and compressive strength, bonding strength and acoustic performance. Results show that it is possible to add cigarette butts in a gypsum matrix, resulting in better mechanical behavior than traditional gypsums.