UTILIZATION OF CUPOLA FURNACE SLAG AND CERAMIC WASTE IN THE PRODUCTION OF CONCRETE

Abstract

This research is on the use of cupola furnace slag and ceramic waste (broken tiles) for concrete production. Tests were carried out on cement, aggregates, cupola furnace slag and ceramic waste (broken tiles) prior to use. Batching by weight was used to produce fresh concrete at a prescribed mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a water cement ratio of 0.55. A total number of 144 concrete cubes were produced, by partially replacing cement and fine aggregate with cupola furnace slag and ceramic waste (broken tiles) powder respectively at various percentage replacement. Tests performed to determine the properties of fresh concrete were slump, compaction factor, setting time and concrete density, while compressive strength test was carried out on hardened concrete after 7, 14, 28, and 56 days curing in water. The average compressive strength of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete gives 13.4 N/mm2, 17.1 N/mm2, 23.1N/mm2 and 24.0 N/mm2 after 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, and 56 days of curing respectively. The optimal compressive strength was achieved at mix when 10% cupola slag and 40% ceramic waste (broken tiles) was used to partially replace fine aggregate with 100% cement. This gave 20.1 N/mm2, 24.2 N/mm2, 25.9 N/mm2, and 26.8 N/mm2 after 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, and 56 days of curing respectively. The results at this level is the highest, even for the conventional concrete. In order to determine the optimal mix, analysis of variance was used to analyze the compressive strength results at 56 days of curing. The result obtained shows that, cupola furnace slag and ceramic waste (broken tiles) could be an alternative source of fine aggregate.