Quick Setting Mortar, with Recycled Sanitary Ceramic and Super Absorbent Polymer

Abstract

The current study is about the elaboration of concrete mortars composed of recycled sanitary ceramic waste, cement, silica gel in different percentages and sizes, with the purpose of reducing environmental pollution by creating an ecological material for the construction industry. Therefore, two phases were performed, which consisted of a bibliographic analysis by which the necessary tests for the preparation of mortars were determined, and subsequently we conducted experimental tests according to the Ecuadorian Technical Regulations. These consisted of the characterization of the materials, followed by the ideal dosage in based on the properties of the mortar components. From the dosage, specimens were realized with various percentages of silica gel, which were tested for compression and flexion, giving as optimum a percentage of 0.5% with a resistance of 265.90 kg/cm2. Consequently, test tubes were elaborated with the optimum percentage but at different sizes of silica gel particles, from which a resistance of 288.13 kg/cm2 was obtained, belonging to mortars with inclusion of silica with a size smaller than 38 µm, the same that is higher than specified in current regulations. Finally, EDS and SEM analyzes were performed in which the presence of anorthite and albite, as well as ettringite, was determined.