Chloride ion penetration into mortar containing ceramic waste aggregate

In this study, the chloride ion penetration tests on mortars made of ceramic waste aggregates (CWAs) was conducted by using a silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution spray method and a rapid chloride migration test (steady-state condition). The CWAs used in the experiment are ceramic electrical insulator wastes supplied by an electric power company in Japan, which were crushed and ground to various sizes prior to the replacement of fine aggregates. The influence of the CWAs was evaluated through the tests on four series of mortar as follows: (1) mortars made of different fine aggregates, (2) mortars made of the CWA having a different range of particle sizes, (3) mortars made of the CWA at a different quantity, and (4) mortars made of the CWA at a different replacement ratio. From the experimental results, it is found that the CWA mortars are more effective in the resistance of chloride ion penetration than a typical mortar made of river sand. The depth of chloride ion penetration in the CWA mortars is decreased either when the amount of the CWA is increased or the particle size of the CWA is decreased. In addition, the effective chloride diffusion coefficient of the CWA mortar is lower than that of the river sand mortar.

► The compressive strength of river sand mortar linearly increases with increasing the fine aggregate replacement by CWA.
► CWA mortar exhibits significantly lower chloride ion penetration depth in comparison with river sand mortar.
► The diffusion coefficient of CWA mortar decreases to 63% in comparison with that of river sand mortar.