Composite utilizing residues of marble and granite for building popular homes

- The obtained composite was mechanically, thermally and acoustically characterized.
- The utilization of the proposed composite in blocks is feasible for the edification.
- The best formulation among mechanical and thermal resistance was 1C+1G+2S+1STY+1M/GP.
- The pure marble powder composite provided a best acoustic absorption.

The use of composite materials for the construction industry has been the subject of numerous scientific studies in Brazil and worldwide. This paper presents a composite that was obtained from waste generated in the process of obtaining plates of granite and marble, cement, gypsum, sand, crushed EPS and water. These wastes cause great damage to the environment and are thrown in landfills in large quantities. Several blocks from varied compositions were manufactured and preliminary tests of mechanical and thermal resistance were performed, allowing the selection of the most appropriate proportion. Manufacturing processes and assembly of the blocks to build an experimental residence were discussed. The blocks were obtained in two configurations: with voids and with PET bottles filling. It was studied which type of block and residue was more viable for the proposed order. The formulation that was more efficient in terms of mechanical and thermal resistances was: 1.0 Cement +2.0 Sand +1.0 Styrofoam +1.0 Marble and Granite Powder+Water. The mechanical strength of the blocks was above 3.0 MPa. The thermal resistance of the blocks was confirmed by the maximum difference between the inner and outer walls of 8.0 °C. The acoustic absorption levels were higher than the levels provided by the conventional bricks, but lower than the minimum level of a material that has acoustic insulation capacity around 45%.