Properties of green mortar containing granite sawmill

Abstract

The cement industry is one of the world’s largest CO2 emitters. The need to minimize these emissions, and assimilate by substitution and different types of waste, are challenges faced in the European Union. The use of granite sawmill from the ornamental stone industry allows for the manufacturing of pozzolanic cements, in which 10% and 20% of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) has been replaced by waste. In the present paper, properties of cements and mortars have been tested (when fresh and once set), such as workability, setting, retraction, mechanical resistance to bending and compression, elastic modulus to compression, creep, retraction, and durability. In all cases and substitution proportions, the results have been as satisfactory as those achieved with OPC, even better, allowing a second life to the waste, and participating in the principles of the circular economy. Bot substitutions are very resistant and have great durability for the gelifraction processes from the new green cements. Using this waste—granite sawmill—its volume is minimized and transfer to a landfill is avoided.