Enhancing Slag Aggregate Concrete by Porcelain Polishing Residue

In an experimental program, to reduce the negative effects of slag aggregates, the grading amount and size of aggregates were studied. Porcelain polishing residue as a pozzolanic byproduct powder from tile factories was also replaced. Mechanical strength, water absorption, electrical resistivity, and microstructure observations were applied. Results show that limiting slag aggregate replacement can reduce defects and even improve concrete properties such that the replacement amount can be increased to 62%. Cement replacement by porcelain polishing residue up to 20% improved the properties of slag and natural aggregate concretes. Replacing 20% of cement by porcelain polishing residue in the concrete with 62% slag aggregate enhanced its compressive strength, water absorption, electrical resistivity, and microstructure, even better than the reference mix concrete, which was with only natural aggregates. However, the addition of 15% porcelain polishing residue was almost positive to improve properties of the mix designs but not comparable to the replacement strategy.