Modulus of elasticity of reinforced mortars with mineral wool fibers residues from construction and demolition waste

Abstract

Mineral wool is currently the most used insulation in the European Union, and quantities of this waste have increased alarmingly in the last decade, making it essential to recycle or reuse the material, which is not current practice. This study is part of a research that analyses the viability of the mineral wool from the construction and demolition waste (CDW) as reinforcement of cement matrices. The experimental investigation started with a preliminary study on the applicability of the waste material for its incorporation into a cement matrix based on its physical and chemical characterization. The objective is to analyse the elasticity behaviour of a material composed of a cement mortar matrix to which the aforementioned waste is incorporated. For this purpose, an experimental plan is made in which cement mortar specimens are made with 30% of different types of mineral wool waste, on which Module of Young test is carried out to evaluate their viability as a reinforcement material. It is verified that the incorporation of fibre waste reduces the modulus of elasticity of the compounds analysed, for the addition of 30% of the three types of mineral wool waste used. In the values obtained it was observed that the mortars that incorporate rock wool waste, fiberglass waste and mixed waste of mineral wools, present 16%, 20.5%, 17.6% less rigidity that the reference mortar. It is also reflected that the most elastic compound is the mortar to which fiberglass is incorporated. It was found that the incorporation of waste of mineral wool to a cement mortar matrix is a viable alternative for its recycling.