The Use of Waste Ceramic Concrete for a Cleaner and Sustainable Environment - A Comprehensive Study of Mechanical and Microstructural Properties

Increased construction activity combined with a continued reliance on conventional concrete materials resulted in material scarcity and increased construction costs. So, in this study, an attempt has been made to find the optimal use of ceramic powder and ceramic aggregate (both fine and coarse) as a possible replacement for ordinary portland cement (OPC 43 grade) and natural aggregate (fine and coarse), respectively in concrete. The present study aims to investigate the mechanical & microstructural properties of waste ceramic concrete. The performance of this modified concrete was evaluated in terms of Compressive Strength (CS), Tensile Strength (TS), Flexural Strength (FS), and Combined Flexural and Torsional strength (FTS) obtained based on various experimental tests conducted on a total of 192 samples (48 cubes, 48 cylinders, 96 beams). The mechanical analysis of waste ceramic concrete showed that ceramic waste material as a partial replacement for natural aggregate, cement, and fine aggregate provides better performance in terms of CS, TS, and FTS at optimal percentages- 20% ceramic aggregate, 10% ceramic powder, and 10% ceramic fine aggregate (Fineness Modulus 2.2) respectively in M25 grade concrete. Waste ceramic concrete exhibits improved morphological properties as a result of increased pore filling with dense and compact structure, as well as increased C–H crystals and denser structure in pastes as a result of the incorporation of ceramic materials into the concrete mix.The present experimental research shows that the choice of using ceramic waste as a partial replacement to prepare concrete has benefited from the economic, environmental, and technological points of view. Moreover, it offers a possibility for improving the durability of concrete, which has vital importance.