Potential for use of crushed waste calcined-clay brick as a supplementary cementitious material in Brazil

The Brazilian ceramic industry generates large amounts of calcined-clay waste. This paper examines the factors that influence its potential for use as a partial replacement of Portland cement. Superplasticized mortars of equal workability containing ground crushed waste calcined-clay brick (GCWCCB) in the proportions of 10, 20, 30 and 40% as a cement replacement were analyzed through mechanical tests, pore structure characterization and durability tests. The results indicated the optimal percentages of substitution lies between 10% to 20%. The potential reduction of CO2 emissions could be as high as 10% of current Brazilian cement industry emissions if this approach were to be fully implemented, and it could be eligible for Clean Development Mechanism credits under Kyoto protocol. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.