Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 11(3), pp. 1280 - 1296
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2023.110314
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Potential Use of Wastes of Thermostone Blocks and Ceramic Tiles as Recycled Aggregates in Production of Foam Concrete

Zinah A. Shareef ¹, Sofyan Y. Ahmed ¹, Omar M. Abdulkareem ^2,*
1 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Mosul, 41002, Mosul, Iraq
² Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Mosul, 41002, Mosul, Iraq

ABSTRACT

In the past two decades, the usage of aggregate recovered from construction and demolition wastes in the production of foam concrete has drawn a lot of attention as a sustainable alternative for present and future construction. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the possibility of including these wastes as recycled materials in foam concrete. Nevertheless, the knowledge available to identify the utilisation of wastes of thermostone (autoclaved aerated concrete) blocks and ceramic tiles along with their effect on foam concrete is still limited. Hence, this study investigates the possibility of using thermostone blocks and ceramic tiles, as a partial substitution of fine aggregate in foam concrete. Three volume-replacement rates of sand with each waste type were explored (25, 50, and 75%). Results showed that with an increase in thermostone aggregate amount, the hardened density and mechanical strengths of foam concrete were improved. Thanks to the physical action of the fine thermostone aggregate, in addition to its porous nature, making it an internal curing medium, this assists in improving the pore structure and intensifying the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The siliceous property of thermostone powder speeds up the reaction of hydration, thus augmenting the amount of C–S–H which generates a dense matrix and boosts the strength. Similar trend to foam concretes with ceramic aggregate in terms of enhanced mechanical strengths based on their physical (filling role) and chemical (pozzolanic role) effects. As for the thermal conductivity coefficients, they were improved at 50 and 75% of thermostone powder due to the pore-clogging effect, which led to a decrease in pore contact, size, and distribution. Hence, the microstructure was refined, and the thermal conductivity was increased. Because of the basic compounds of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ in ceramic aggregate, they have greater thermal compatibility in addition to their pozzolanic activity, which produces a compact matrix and enhances the thermal conductivity.

KEYWORDS
Foam Concrete, Thermostone Blocks, Ceramic Tiles, Compressive Strength, Thermal Conductivity

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Zinah A. Shareef , Sofyan Y. Ahmed , Omar M. Abdulkareem , "Potential Use of Wastes of Thermostone Blocks and Ceramic Tiles as Recycled Aggregates in Production of Foam Concrete," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 1280 - 1296, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2023.110314.

(b). APA Format:
Zinah A. Shareef , Sofyan Y. Ahmed , Omar M. Abdulkareem (2023). Potential Use of Wastes of Thermostone Blocks and Ceramic Tiles as Recycled Aggregates in Production of Foam Concrete. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 11(3), 1280 - 1296. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2023.110314.