Characterization of Monatélé-Sanaga river sand (Center Region, Cameroon) and chamotte: Their combination with recycled plastic waste for an experimental processing of composite-polymer-roofing tiles

Characterization of Monatélé-Sanaga river sand (Center Region, Cameroon) and chamotte: Their combination with recycled plastic waste for an experimental processing of composite-polymer-roofing tiles | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Characterization of Monatélé-Sanaga river sand (Center Region, Cameroon) and chamotte: Their combination with recycled plastic waste for an experimental processing of composite-polymer-roofing tiles Pierre Odi Nkoulou, Nguo Sylvestre Kanouo, Yannick Langollo Tchedele This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8515069/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study determines the grain size distribution parameters, specific gravity, apparent density, and major oxide composition of Monatélé-Sanaga river sand and chamotte, uses the characterized raw materials and PET plastic waste to experimentally process composite roofing tiles. The grain size distribution parameters (fineness modulus; 2.94, uniformity coefficient: 3.6, and curvature coefficient: 1.36), specific gravity (2.59 g/cm 3 ), and apparent density (1.60 g/cm 3 ) for Monatélé Sanaga river sand show that the studied is medium to coarse-grained, not well sorted with slightly low-density sand suitable for its use in concrete production. The oxide composition shows the predominance SiO 2 (65.79 wt.%) followed by that of Al 2 O 3 (12.08 wt.%), K 2 O (4.1 wt.%), and CaO (1.3 wt.%); probably due to the presence of quartz and aluminosilicate minerals important for the production of roofing tiles. Particle size (made up of 45.6% of fine-grained particles, 37.6% of medium grained particles, and 16.8% coarse-grained particles), specific gravity (1.74 g/cm 3 ), and apparent density (1.26 g/cm 3 ) for crushed chamotte classifies it as fine to coarse-grained, very low-SG; and as lightweight insulating type. The oxide composition shows the predominance SiO 2 (64.94 wt.%). followed by that of Al 2 O 3 (12.7 wt.%), K 2 O (5.22 wt.%), and Na 2 O (1.27 wt.%); which classified It as low Al 2 O 3 and slightly high alkaline chamotte with possible presence of quartz and aluminosilicate minerals. The apparent density (2.12–1.64 g/cm 3 ) for test specimens shows a decrease with the increase in portion of plastic and chamotte. The water absorption (0-1.36%) places the formulated test specimens within the low water absorption type, closer to the premium tiles. The porosity (0 to 2.03%) lower than standard values for roofing tiles shows that the test specimens are less porous. The flexural strength (1.22–6.12 MPa) and compression strength (9.76–19.84 MPa) are more than standard values for concrete roofing tiles and ordinary clay roofing tiles, respectively; which therefore makes the test specimens good as high resistant roofing tiles. Cameroon river sand chamotte waste plastic recycling composite roofing tiles Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8515069","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":572463466,"identity":"56a0732a-8ac6-4360-a1b7-dffdc7d3fddc","order_by":0,"name":"Pierre Odi Nkoulou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Maroua","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Pierre","middleName":"Odi","lastName":"Nkoulou","suffix":""},{"id":572463467,"identity":"35d8f730-da49-4012-931f-349e9001b9cd","order_by":1,"name":"Nguo Sylvestre 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tiles","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Cameroon, river sand, chamotte, waste plastic recycling, composite roofing tiles","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8515069/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8515069/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study determines the grain size distribution parameters, specific gravity, apparent density, and major oxide composition of Monat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute;-Sanaga river sand and chamotte, uses the characterized raw materials and PET plastic waste to experimentally process composite roofing tiles. The grain size distribution parameters (fineness modulus; 2.94, uniformity coefficient: 3.6, and curvature coefficient: 1.36), specific gravity (2.59 g/cm\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e), and apparent density (1.60 g/cm\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e) for Monat\u0026eacute;l\u0026eacute; Sanaga river sand show that the studied is medium to coarse-grained, not well sorted with slightly low-density sand suitable for its use in concrete production. The oxide composition shows the predominance SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (65.79 wt.%) followed by that of Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (12.08 wt.%), K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO (4.1 wt.%), and CaO (1.3 wt.%); probably due to the presence of quartz and aluminosilicate minerals important for the production of roofing tiles. Particle size (made up of 45.6% of fine-grained particles, 37.6% of medium grained particles, and 16.8% coarse-grained particles), specific gravity (1.74 g/cm\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e), and apparent density (1.26 g/cm\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e) for crushed chamotte classifies it as fine to coarse-grained, very low-SG; and as lightweight insulating type. The oxide composition shows the predominance SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (64.94 wt.%). followed by that of Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (12.7 wt.%), K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO (5.22 wt.%), and Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO (1.27 wt.%); which classified It as low Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e and slightly high alkaline chamotte with possible presence of quartz and aluminosilicate minerals. The apparent density (2.12\u0026ndash;1.64 g/cm\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e) for test specimens shows a decrease with the increase in portion of plastic and chamotte. The water absorption (0-1.36%) places the formulated test specimens within the low water absorption type, closer to the premium tiles. The porosity (0 to 2.03%) lower than standard values for roofing tiles shows that the test specimens are less porous. The flexural strength (1.22\u0026ndash;6.12 MPa) and compression strength (9.76\u0026ndash;19.84 MPa) are more than standard values for concrete roofing tiles and ordinary clay roofing tiles, respectively; which therefore makes the test specimens good as high resistant roofing tiles.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Characterization of Monatélé-Sanaga river sand (Center Region, Cameroon) and chamotte: Their combination with recycled plastic waste for an experimental processing of composite-polymer-roofing tiles","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-13 15:11:44","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8515069/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"652e7de4-0a07-46fe-bc60-bc8c2c679c56","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 13th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-29T17:24:38+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-13 15:11:44","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8515069","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8515069","identity":"rs-8515069","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}