Performance of cement grout incorporating ceramic waste as filler

Abstract

The large bulk of ceramic waste nowadays leads to serious environmental problem since these materials are not reusable and recyclable. In second concern is related to the deterioration due to crack problem facing by concrete structure. The use of cement grout as one of repair materials for minor crack has been applied for many years. However, the natural sand as filler used in cement grout somehow needs another alternate material to substitute it due to depletion issue and has become expensive. Therefore, reuse of ceramic waste as substitute in natural sand has been proposed to minimise those problems. This research conducted focus on the performance of cement grout incorporating ceramic tile waste as filler. The experimental tests were performed to determine engineering properties consists of consistency, setting time, shrinkage behavior, water absorption, compressive and flexure strength. Different size particle of ceramic waste in range 150 µm to 850 µm were selected as partial replacement of sand as filler in cement grout. The result indicated the optimum of size particle that give better performance in their engineering properties was filler with size around 150 µm, without affecting significantly in design strength. The incorporating of ceramic waste has no negative effects on cement grout properties and thus can be used as alternate construction material in future. Besides, cement grout made from ceramic waste as filler may minimise the disposal problem as was mentioned earlier.