Mechanical Properties of Self-curing Concrete Containing ‎Recycled Materials

Abstract

This study is examined the combined effects of using recycled ceramic powder as cement substitute and the accumulation of polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG-4000) as a self-internal curing agent on the mechanical features of concrete. Compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, unit weight and Flexural strength were studied as well as fresh property such as slump. By using less quantities of cement, the primary goal is to enhance sustainability and lower CO2 effluents. PEG-4000's was added at 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% as a percentage of total weight of cement, while recycled ceramic was employed at replacement percentage of 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. Results illustrate that for mixtures that use ceramic powder as a partial cement substitute, a PEG-4000 dosage of about 1% would be the best way to retain a workable consistency. Generally, using ceramic powder as cement replacement along with PEG-4000 lowers the self-curing concrete's unit weight. The optimal compressive strength is found to be at 10% cement replacement with 0.5% curing agent. Generally, the obtained split tensile strength designate that the splitting tensile strength of concrete is significantly impacted when recycled ceramic powder is added as a partial cement substitute. 10% ceramic replacement with 1.0–1.5% PEG 4000 is the ideal combination, as the beneficial self-curing effect makes up for the lower cement concentration and creates a more durable and finer microstructure. The complementary advantages of self-curing and pozzolanic reaction cause increased flexural strength at intermediate ceramic replacement (10–20%) with combination of 1% PEG-4000. There was a growth in flexural strength by (12%) as compared to the baseline mix with 15% ceramic and 1% PEG.