Exploitation of waste perlite products in lime-based mortars and grouts

Perlite is an amorphous mineral, coming from volcanic deposits and mainly consists of aluminosiliceous compounds. Perlite mining presents a low environmental burden, while during the last 60 years less than the 1% of the worldwide reserves have been exploited. During its industrial process, a significant number of secondary products derives and remain unexploited, inducing the environmental burden. The study focuses on exploiting two secondary products coming from the elaboration of perlite (named after D1S, D1C), in the Hellenic plant. These products have been used as pozzolans in the production of mortars and grouts. During the experimental part, nine mixtures where manufactured and tested, including five mortars and four grouts, where natural pozzolan was substituted by D1S and D1C. The fresh state properties of all mixtures were recorded, as well as their hardened ones, including shrinkage deformations, porosity, apparent specific gravity, water absorption coefficient due to capillary action, dynamic modulus of elasticity, flexure and compressive strength. From the correlation of the results, it was asserted that the partial or even total substitution of natural pozzolan by perlite secondary products, can positively influence the physical and mechanical properties of the composites. D1S seem to be an alternative pozzolanic material leading in mortars and grouts of enhanced properties. It maybe therefore concluded that the exploitation of perlite secondary products in the construction sector is feasible, leading to the development of effective, low-cost and environmentally friendly products for specific applications.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the exploitation of two secondary products (named D1S, D1C) derived from perlite elaboration in a Hellenic plant. These products have been used as pozzolans in the production of mortars and grouts. The results suggest that the partial or even total substitution of natural pozzolan by perlite secondary products can positively influence the physical and mechanical properties of the composites. D1S appears to be an alternative pozzolanic material leading to enhanced properties in mortars and grouts.