Recycling

Biography

Biography: Enric Vazquez

Abstract

The reduction of the use of natural resources and the use of a waste material avoiding problematic landfills, have been the principal points to open an important recycling market in most developed countries. Crushed concrete and masonry waste can be suitable for replacing coarse aggregate in concrete. When crushed masonry is used, compressive strength is lower and his high porosity affects durability and shrinkage. With crushed concrete aggregate the compressive strength and durability depend on the quantity of attached mortar. Attached mortar is responsible for higher porosity, weak zones in the aggregate and is related too with the new concrete durability. Smart crushers liberate more adhered mortar and can be a good solution.rnMethods to guaranty the quality of the production of good quality are developed, but inhomogeneity of the concrete waste of different origins continue to inspire distrust in many consumers, that prefer the use as sub base material in roads. Irregularity of the distribution of chlorides or other contaminants makes complicated the quality control, but combined analysis of durability and sustainability and the use of indicators and models can be a solution. The in situ recycling with only one origin of concrete can assure homogeneity.rnMany papers reflect the need of more cement to compensate the differences in properties compared with concrete with primary aggregates.rnWhen studied with LCA we can see that cement is, by far the most influencing factor in terms of CO2 emissions. More cement can prevent the sustainability of recycled concrete. Several solutions will be proposed to make the recycled concrete sustainable, from the combined use of mineral additions and chemical admixtures to new mix design methods that can achieve equal performances in fresh state, strength and durability.