Experimental Studies on Dust-Modified Cementitious Composites

Abstract

The problem of collecting waste containing plastics is increasing in significance in today’s world. This paper presents the results of a study of the effect of adding dust from air purification filters installed at a plant producing plastic construction materials on selected properties of a cementitious composite. The elemental composition of the dusts was analysed using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and the grain size distribution using a laser particle size analyser, and the dusts were then added to the cement composite in amounts of 1–6% by weight of the cement. The effect of the amount of dust was evaluated in terms of changes in rheological characteristics (consistency), mechanical characteristics over a period of up to 12 months (compressive and bending strength), water absorption, and frost resistance after 50 freeze–thaw cycles. The addition of the applied dust has been shown to positively alter some mechanical properties.