Feasibility of using recycled glass in architectural cement mortars

The feasibility of using 100% recycled glass (RG) as a fine aggregate replacement in architectural white cement mortar was investigated. All the cement mortar mixtures were proportioned with a fixed water to binder ratio of 0.40. The dosage of superplasticizer was varied to produce highly workable recycled glass self-compacting white cement mortar (RG-SCWM) mixtures. Metakaolin (MK) was used in the RG-SCWM mixtures to suppress alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The test results revealed that increased in the recycled glass (RG) content improved the performance of workability and drying shrinkage. However, there was a gradual reduction in flexural and compressive strengths as the content of RG increased. The incorporation of MK effectively mitigated the ASR expansion and also increasing the resistance towards acid attack. Overall results have proved that it is feasible to produce aesthetically-pleasing architectural cement mortar by using 100% recycled glass as the fine aggregate.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► It is feasible to produce aesthetically-pleasing architectural mortar by using 100% recycled glass as decorative aggregate.
► It is possible to use self-compacting based approach to produce architectural mortar.
► Use of recycled glass has improved the fluidity, drying shrinkage, and resistance to acid attack.
► The flexural and compressive strength decreased with the increase in glass content.
► Metakaolin is found to be an effective suppressor to mitigate the ASR expansion of glass mortar.