Fine-ground ceramics as an alternative binder in high performance concrete

Abstract

The ceramic industry often produces calcined clays that result from burning illite-group clays, which are commonly used in the production of red-clay ceramic products. A portion of these products (which amounts up to 2% depending on producer and country) is discarded as scrap, and thus constitutes industrial waste. The residues of ceramic bricks and floor and roof tiles ground to a suitable fineness can become active pozzolans. So, they have the potential to be used in mortar and concrete. In this paper, mechanical properties and heat and water transport parameters of high performance concrete containing fine-ground ceramics as a partial replacement of Portland cement are studied and compared with reference high performance concrete. The experimental results show that the replacement of Portland cement in the amount of 20% by mass is the most suitable solution. In comparison with reference high performance concrete the mechanical properties of concrete where up to 20% of cement is replaced by fine-ground ceramics are similar or slightly worse, and water transport properties are still acceptable from the durability point of view. © 2010 WIT Press.