Evaluation of the Influence of the Waste Originated by the Production of Titanium Dioxide (URM) on the Physical-Mechanical Properties of Coating Mortars

Abstract

Waste generation is one of the main problems of contemporary society, resulting in high economic costs and environmental impacts, such as the contamination of water sources, groundwater and soil. In this context, there is the unreacted mineral (URM), a waste originated by the production of titanium dioxide, which currently does not have an effective reuse plan, being deposited in a controlled landfill, generating a high economic expense for the generating company. In this way, the present work aims to evaluate the influence of URM on the properties of coating mortars. Firstly, it was carried out a physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of the waste and, afterwards, coating mortar was prepared with additions of 0% (reference), 5%, 10% and 15% of the waste, in relation to the cement mass. The mortars were evaluated for density, porosity, capillary absorption by capillarity and mechanical strength. It was noted that the waste increased the mechanical strength of the mortars studied and did not significantly influence the other evaluated properties. Therefore, the incorporation of the waste into mortars is an interesting and feasible alternative for the destination of the URM.