Improving the polishing resistance of cement mortar by using recycled ceramic

Recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is one of the most effective ways to develop sustainable pavements. In this study, the feasibility of using ceramic waste as an alternative source for fine aggregate to improve the polishing resistance of cement mortar is investigated. The recycled fine aggregates used in this study originate from sanitary ceramic waste; the physical and chemical properties of the Recycled Ceramic Aggregates (RCA) were determined. The optimal RCA content in the mortar was determined based on the mechanical strength of the resulting composite. The polishing resistance of coarse and fine RCA was characterized with the Polished Stone Value (PSV) test and the Wehner/Schulze (W/S) test, respectively. The test results indicate that the polishing resistance of RCA is significantly better than that of commonly used mineral aggregate. Lastly, the self-developed Aachen Polishing Machine (APM) was applied to validate the improvement of RCA on the polishing resistance of cement mortar under realistic loading conditions. The cement mortar containing RCA exhibits a better long-term polishing resistance than the traditional mortar. The results from this study provide insights into the application of RCA in concrete pavements and the improvement of material properties.