Effect of Waste Glass on Portland Cement Hydration Process

Abstract

Glass is an amorphous material, which could be a good pozzolanic material and can be beneficial in compressive strength gain. However, if waste of glass powder has undesirable contaminations (aluminium, clay impurities, sulphates, etc.) it can negatively affect hydration process. In the research were used two types of waste glass (with and without harmful impurities). Waste glass shards were obtained from a local waste recycling plant and its properties were investigated in the Portland cement hydration process. Properties of waste glass were analysed by SEM, XRD test methods, pozzolanicity of glass powder was investigated by Chappelle test method. The hydration process of Portland cement was researched by the semi-adiabatic test method and XRD analysis. Properties of hardened cement paste was analysed by: density, flexural and compressive strength test methods The main aim of this research is to analyse waste glass, which after primary cleaning is not suitable for secondary reuse and investigate its suitability in cement-based systems.