Experimental study on the impact of using ceramic and plastic wastes on mortar performance

The construction industry, in search of sustainable and economical solutions, is increasingly turning to waste recovery to reduce its environmental impact. Ceramic waste, mainly from the production and demolition of tiles and similar materials, and plastic waste from various industrial sectors, is abundant and often poorly managed. The purpose of this work is to investigate the contribution of industrial waste to improving mortar performance by examining the use of ceramic waste as a partial replacement for cement and plastic waste as a partial replacement for sand. Tests on density, compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and the effect of elevated temperature were carried out on the mixes studied. The results showed that the optimum mix for flexural strength was the one containing 20% ceramic waste at 28 days. The wave propagation velocity results show that mixes containing only ceramic waste are of good quality, with propagation velocities ranging from 3500 m/s to 4500 m/s. Mixtures containing only 10% or 20% ceramic exhibit better flexural and compressive strength than normal mortar at 150°C. This work contributes to sustainable development by eliminating ceramic and plastic waste from the environment.