**2. Experimental**

### **2.1 Materials**

The used sand in this study is a local material, extracted from the south of Algeria. It presents a siliceous nature as demonstrated by its X-ray Diffraction Analysis (**Figure 1**), and a continuous particle size distribution ranging from 0.08 to 4 mm (as given in **Figure 2**). Hence, their physical properties are presented in **Table 1**. The Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) view of their grains is given in **Figure 3**.

Portland cement CEM II/A 42.5 from MASCARA Factory in Algeria was used throughout this study, with a density of 3100 kg/m3 .

The use of fillers in flowable sand concrete composition is essential [22]. Its use helps to improve the compactness of concrete by completing the granular distribution of sand in its finest part. As well as to reducing the cement content and produce a low cost concrete. A marble powder (MP) was used in this study as fillers in FSC mixers with a specific density of 2.73 kg/m3 . And a specific

*The Effect of Ceramic Wastes on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Eco-Friendly... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95041*

**Figure 1.** *X-ray diffractogram analysis of sand.*

**Figure 2.** *Particle size distribution of sand and ceramic waste.*


### **Table 1.**

*Physical properties of sand and ceramic wastes.*

surface area measured with the Blaine's permeability meter according to EN 196–6 standard of about 220 m<sup>2</sup> /kg.

The ceramic waste used in this study has been obtained from the disposal area of the ceramic factory in Algeria (Ceramic wall tiles). The physical properties of this waste are presented in **Table 1** and their sieve analysis results are shown in **Figure 2**.

After the collection of these wastes, they were crushed and extruded in the form of grains (**Figure 4**), and then used in the manufacturing of FSC by volumetric substitution of natural sand with different percentages (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%). The Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) view of their grains is given in **Figure 5**.

### **Figure 3.** *Scanning electron micrographs of sand, G = 40.*

### **Figure 4.** *Stages of obtaining the ceramic wastes.*

**Figure 5.** *General aspect SEM micrograph (26X) of ceramic waste.*

*The Effect of Ceramic Wastes on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Eco-Friendly... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95041*

In this work a polyether–polycarboxylate based superplasticizer 'MEDAFLUID145' in liquid form and chestnut color was used as chemical admixture with a solid content of 30%, specific density of 1.08 g/cm3 , pH equal to 6 and a content of color <1 g/L.

The mixing water used for the different mixes is the distribution drinking water.

### **2.2 Mix design**

In this study, the FSC formulation is based on the theoretical method of Sablocrete project [22]. The CW was incorporated into the mass of flowable sand concrete by partial replacement of sand volume with different percentages from 0 to 25%. The mix proportions of each FSC are given in **Table 2**. As seen from this table and, described below, the mixtures were coded such that, the percentage of CW used were identified in a precise way.


All FSC mixes are manufactured in the laboratory environment by a standard mortar mixer with a capacity of 5 l and all components of FSC mixture were batched by weight. For a better distribution of admixtures within the mass of FSC, superplasticizer was diluted with 40% of mixing water before added to the concrete. It consists to mixes the entire components (aggregate + cement + filler) in the dry state for a half minute. Then, a 60% of mixing water was added and mixed for one minute (1 min) before adding the remaining 40% of water mixed with the superplasticiser and mixed for 1 min. The mixing is stopped after about 3 min before remixing for another one minute (1 min).

All specimens were produced in a laboratory environment at 20°C and 50% relative humidity (RH). After 24 h, they were removed from the molds and placed in water at 20°C and 100% RH until the day of testing.

### **2.3 Methods**

Before casting, the fluidity of FSC was measured by using mini-slump flow diameter test and V-funnel test according to EFNARC (**Figures 6** and **7**). For the flow spread test, the truncated cone mold is placed on the plate, filled with the


### **Table 2.**

*Mix proportion of FSC with ceramic waste.*

**Figure 6.** *Workability tests for fresh FSC mixes (a/ mini-slump flow test; b/ V-funnel test).*

**Figure 7.** *Fluidity measurement test of FSC.*

FSC mixture, and lifted. The subsequent diameter of the mixture is measured in two perpendicular directions, and the mean is taken. For the V-funnel test, the funnel is filled with 1.1 l of FSC mixture, and the V-funnel flow time is that between opening the orifice and the first daylight appearing when looking vertically down through the funnel. The bulk density was evaluated after according to NF EN 12350–6.

The compressive and flexural strength are measured in the hardened state on three 40 × 40 × 160 mm samples at 28 days according to EN 196–1. The flexural strength was measured by a three-point bending test, using a testing machine with a maximum load capacity of 30 kN. The half samples resulting from this test were then submitted to compression test. The modulus of elasticity in compression was measured at the age of 28 days on cylinders of 320 mm in diameter and 160 mm of height by determining the longitudinal deformations during loading using a strain gauge and according to ISO 834.

The microstructure of various FSC mixtures is investigated after 28 days of curing by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for very high magnifications and a video - microscope (Controlab ®) VH-Z25 equipped with a 25x to 175x zoom for low magnifications. The FSC samples were first cut into slices using a diamond saw. From the middle of the mid-slice, a block of 20 × 20 mm was cut. Flat polished epoxy impregnation specimens were used for acquiring backscattered electron images. The SEM observation ware carried out on simple surface after making them conductive by metallization (covering them, under vacuum, with a layer of approximately 10 to 20 nm of gold).
