Paving block mortars made with mixed waste glass from municipality

Abstract

To reduce the negative environmental impact of waste glass, this research study aims to incorporate mixed types of municipal waste glass in cement block mortars. The waste glass was first crushed, milled and screened with 18 and 20 meshed sieves to obtain the waste glass powder (WGP). The WGP, grouped into three sizes – small enough to pass through (P20WGP; 95% finer than 125 μm) and too large to pass through a 20 mesh sieve (T20WGP), as well as an equal mix of both sizes (M20WGP) – was used to replace sand in the range 0–100% in the cement block mortar. The specific strength of mortars was enhanced by increasing the WGP content. X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that carbonation at the early age observed in the P20WGP mortars could accelerate strength development. The extended working time test showed that the fresh WGP mortars had the potential for casting in the first 120 min. Different amounts of WGP used in mortars compacted by hand did not produce a significant difference in mechanical properties, suggesting that WGP could replace sand at all percentages. The surface temperature change, as a function of solar irradiated time, of mortar blocks compacted both by hand and hydraulically was similar.