The use of stone waste as fine aggregate or cement replacement in cement-based mortars: A review
María Concepción Pacheco-Menor, Inês Flores‐Colen, Jorge de Brito
Abstract
Mortar is the second most used construction material. Its limitations are apparent with the growing demand for environmental protection. Reducing the use of cement and fine aggregate is a priority. Concurrently, quarrying activities, mineral-asphalt mixes, and dimension stone industry generate fine waste, presenting significant environmental challenges. However, due to its fineness, this waste can fulfil the requirements of fine aggregate or filler in mortar. This study explores the potential of utilizing stone waste fines as fine aggregate or filler to replace cement in mortars. The critical review presented in this paper discusses the properties of the stone waste fines, mixing procedures, and properties of mortar with limestone, marble, granite, and basalt waste fines for the first time, using a linear regression model. Some findings were: (1) For mortar with stone waste fines as a partial replacement of fine aggregate, it was not possible to establish a trend for compressive strength. The tensile bond and adhesive strength of mortar with marble waste fines can improve for up to 100 % and 60 % substitution. The drying shrinkage may be insignificant, up to 30 %, in substitution of granite waste fines. Mortar with basalt and limestone waste fines shows no mass loss under freeze-thaw effects; (2) For mortar with stone waste fines as partial replacement of fine cement , if the paste cement method is used, marble or granite waste fines produce a positive compressive strength at substitution levels up to 20 % and 15 % and the capillarity is lower. Mortar with marble waste fines can reduce shrinkage up to 20 % substitution. • Stone waste fines as partial replacement of fine aggregate provide better mortar properties than as a replacement for cement. • Using the paste replacement method improves the compressive strength and capillary at substitution levels >5 %. • More investigations are needed to optimize the use of stone waste fines as cement replacement in mortar.