Prospects for the Utilization of Waste Glass in the Production of Silicate Bricks

This article provides a comprehensive review of international and national studies on the manufacturing of silicate bricks, as well as the results of preliminary experimental research on the incorporation of waste glass into silicate mixtures for the purpose of its utilization. The objective of the study is to determine the correlation between the amount of waste glass added and the variation in the physical and mechanical properties of silicate bricks. In the experimental work, industrial-grade silicate mixtures were used in the raw materials intended for silicate brick production from the Joint Stock Company "West Kazakhstan Corporation of Construction Materials" (JSC "WKCCM") and crushed container-type waste glass, predominantly clear (white) in color. Three different compositions of samples were investigated in the "silicate mix–waste glass" system, with glass waste content of 2%, 3%, and 5% by mass. Cylindrical specimens with dimensions of 50×50×50 mm were fabricated at the accredited laboratory of JSC "West Kazakhstan Corporation of Construction Materials" for testing. The autoclaving process was carried out according to the standard industrial regime: steam pressure increase over 1.5 hours (Stage 1), holding at constant pressure for 5–6 hours (Stage 2), and pressure release over 1–1.5 hours (Stage 3). Analysis of the experimental data indicates that an increase in waste glass content from 2.0% to 5.0% results in a slight reduction in compressive strength. Nevertheless, all samples retained compressive strength within the range of 331–433 kg/cm², which confirms the absence of negative impact from waste glass additions up to 5.0% on the strength characteristics of the bricks. Preliminary calculations suggest that for a silicate brick plant with an annual production capacity of 80 million units, replacing quartz sand with 2.0–5.0% waste glass could allow for the recycling of approximately 5,000 to 7,000 tonnes of glass waste per year and, accordingly, conserve the same amount of natural quartz sand. The results of the study serve as a foundation for the development of a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, and waste – free technology for silicate brick production using waste glass and various glass-containing residues