Effect of Sand Partial Substitution for Glass Powder on the Behaviour of Sand-Cement Mortar

Abstract

Partial substitution of aggregates for pieces of glass in concrete contributes to reducing the use this resource and preserving the environment for future generations. However, concretes or mortars mixed with crushed glass can deteriorate within a few years, because of the alkali-silica reaction related to the size of glass pieces. Some investigations were carried out in order to find out how to bring down this phenomenon. Different percentages of glass powder were mixed with mortar made from sand, cement and crushed glass pieces of which diameter is between 1 and 5 mm. Products obtained were submitted to flexural testing, compressive strength testing and resistance to acid attack and Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) observations were made after a period running from 28 to 180 days of drying. The results show an increase in the mechanical properties of products with glass powder and an improvement in the durability of mortar in acidic environment. Such improvements are related to the enhanced adhesion created between crushed glass pieces and cementitious matrix containing glass powder as a result of pozzolanic reaction.