Characterisation of Recycled Quarzitic and Plastic Aggregates for Sustainable Lightweight Screeds

Abstract

The present contribution reports the results of the experimental investigation on a sustainable lightweight cementitious composite material, in which virgin sand is partially substituted by a very fine composite powder retrieved from the manufacturing process of kitchen and sanitary ware. In order to obtain lightweight structural concrete suitable for screeds, the mixture is completed by the addition of recycled polyethylene terephthalate aggregates and lightweight glass spherules. First, physical and morphological properties of the raw powder are thoroughly investigated. Then, the mechanical response of the composite is assessed by means of three-point bending tests and uni-axial compression tests. The conglomerates exhibit promising mechanical performance, thus being regarded as possible candidate for innovative and sustainable structural applications.