Use of crushed fired clay ceramics in the production of mortars

Abstract

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) constitutes a major portion of total solid waste production in the world. While in many countries reuse and recycling of construction materials is well established, in other countries, including Cyprus, most CDW is landfilled together with municipal solid waste (MSW). Given the scarcity of landfill space and the increasing costs of improved environmental protection involved in contemporary landfill engineering and management, it is obvious that action to reuse or recycle construction materials will positively address the environmental impact of the local construction industry. In this paper we present the results of a laboratory study on the use of crushed fired clay ceramics, as a replacement for cement, in the production of mortars. We report on the physico-mechanical characteristics of these mortars and we reveal the most important factors that determine their strength and workability. © 2009 WIT Press.