Uso de metacaolín, vidrio reciclado y fibra óptica en la elaboración de un concreto translúcido

Abstract

Nowadays, construction materials are in constantly development. They include different raw and aggregates to enhance its physical, chemical and durability properties. Likewise, these new materials should be a remarkable alternative, decreasing the costs and contributing with the environmental concerns. Our research proposes a nonstructural concrete modified with metakaolin(MK), which has translucency features thanksto addition of waste glass and optical fibers. The mechanical and physical behavior of the material was assessed by means of compression strength, flexural and tensile tests. The results indicatedthat each resistance (flexural, compression strength and tensile) significantly decrease because of addition of optical fibers in the concrete. Besides, the pozzolanic material -metakaolin- added to the concreteimproved the alkali-silica reactionresistance, reducing the expansion producedin thematerialdue to the high active silica content. Clearly, metakaolin helps to improvethe durability of the concrete. Translucency was measured from transmittance and spectrophotometry tests. As a result, the amount of light thatpass through the samples is enough to beseen by the human eye. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]