Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com
Construction
and Building

Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564

MATERIALS
www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

Incorporation of ne ceramics in mortars

Joao Silva a, Jorge de Brito a,*
, Rosario Veiga b

a
DECivil-IST, Technical University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
b
National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC), Department of Buildings, Av. do Brasil, Lisbon, Portugal

Received 6 April 2007; received in revised form 6 October 2007; accepted 17 October 2007
Available online 26 November 2007

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the viability of improving the performance of cementitious mortars through the addition of very ne
aggregates from crushed red clay ceramics. For that purpose, an experimental campaign was performed with the main purpose of testing
the possibility of improving the performance of cementitious mortars at several levels: strength, water absorption, shrinkage, water per-
meability, durability, among others. The results obtained look very promising, even though this line of research needs to be further
pursued.
2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Mortars; Ceramics; Red clay; Microllers; Pozzolanic eect

1. Introduction tars that presented better results were studied in further

The main advantages expected from the application of
red clay waste as aggregate for manufacturing mortars, in
particular in the shape of powdery particles, are: a com-
pression strength increase of the mortars, due to a micro-
ller eect of the super nes and to a pozzolanic eect
presented by some components of crushed debris, namely
the ceramics; a reduction of their capillarity as a result of
the increase in compactness due to a microller eect.
To experimentally test the advantages and drawbacks of
this application a laboratorial analysis of the performance
of mortars was performed by adding dierent quantities of
red clay brick powder [1]. The performance of these mod-
ied mortars was compared with the one of a conventional
mortar (made solely of sand, cement and water). The anal-
ysis was divided in 2 stages: in the rst one, a generic eval-
uation of the main characteristics of a set of mortars with
dierent percentages of incorporation of the powder was
made; in the second stage, based on the rst one, the mor-
detail, considering namely their use as rendering mortars.
Incorporation of brick powder in the dierent mortars
was performed as follows:
 0% incorporation volumetric proportion 1:4 (cement:
siliceous sand aggregate) I(0) reference mortar;
 5% incorporation volumetric proportion 1:4 (cement:
siliceous sand and brick powder aggregate) I(5);
 10% incorporation volumetric proportion 1:4 I(10).
The particle size distribution and the bulk density of the
ceramic ller added are presented in Table 1.
2. First stage
This was the mortars initial characterization stage. A
selection of the mortars that better complied with the req-
uisites demanded was made.
2.1. Consistence of fresh mortar

*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +351 218419709; fax: +351 218497650. The test was performed according to European Norm
E-mail address: jb@civil.ist.utl.pt (J.de Brito). EN 1015-3 (1999). The consistence considered adequate

0950-0618/$ - see front matter 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.10.014
 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564 557

Table 1 Bulk density of fresh mortar

Particle size distribution and bulk density of the ceramic ller 2100.0
Sieve mesh (mm) Retained particles (%) Bulk density (kg/dm3) 2050.0 0
0.063 27.96 0.875 5
2000.0
0.125 11.18 0.941 10
0.150 60.86 1.026 1950.0

for rendering mortars is, according to the norm, 175
mm 10 mm, used as the target in terms of water quantity
for each mortar. The results are presented in Table 2.
The tests results indicate that the need of mixing water
to obtain an acceptable workability decreases with a higher
quantity of incorporated nes. The opposite relation was
detected by Angelim et al. [2], who concluded that the addi-
tion of various types of nes increases the need of mixing
water in order to obtain an acceptable workability. How-
ever, it must be referred that the percentage of incorpo-
rated nes mentioned in this reference is much higher
(between 20 and 40) than the maximum one tested in the
present work (10).
Almeida [3], who tested the incorporation of ne ele-
ments resulting from stone slurry in concrete production,
concluded that, for incorporation percentages lower than
15%, there was a lesser need of mixing water, since the
concrete workability was improved by adding the very
ne aggregates. Since it concerns concrete, this study is
not directly comparable to the present one, as the
aggregate dimensions are very dierent. Nevertheless, it
gives an indication of possible evolution of this
parameter.
Pan et al. [4] also showed that, after replacing 20% of
Portland cement with sewage sludge ash (SSA) (a recycled
material that can be used in cement mortar as pozzolan),
workability of SSA mortar increased with neness.
Generally, literature seems to point out a tendency of
improvement of workability with increasing incorporation
of nes, but naturally this depends on the nature of the
nes.
kg/m3
1900.0
1850.0
1800.0
1750.0
1700.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
% of incorporation
Fig. 1. Bulk density of fresh mortar for the dierent incorporation ratios
studied.
2.3. Dry bulk density of hardened mortar
This test was performed in accordance with European
Norm EN 1015-10 (1999). For each type of mortar a sam-
ple of 3 specimens previously subjected to a curing period
of 28 days was used. Results are presented in Fig. 2.
Contrary to what happened with fresh mortar, hardened
mortar I(5) showed a higher dry bulk density than the ref-
erence mortar, I(0). As referred by Silva et al. [5], this seems
to be due to the decrease of air voids within the mortars
due to the addition of the super nes. Therefore, some of
the voids that are not lled with sand in the mortar without
brick powder incorporation are lled with the latter.
On the other hand, mortar I(10) (with twice as much
incorporated ceramic nes as I(5)) has a lower dry bulk
density than I(5), similar to the one of the reference mortar.
This may be explained by the voids lling capacity of the
brick powder being close to 5%, causing the further incor-
porated nes to perform as the primary aggregates (i.e.
they do not only ll the space in between bulkier aggregates

2.2. Bulk density of fresh mortar Dry bulk density of hardened mortar
1900.0

This test was performed according to European Norm 1850.0 5

0 10
EN 1015-6 (1998). The results are presented in Fig. 1. 1800.0
It is concluded that bulk density signicantly decreases 1750.0
proportionally to the percentage of incorporated nes. This
kg/m3

seems to be due essentially to the lower density of the brick 1700.0

waste nes as compared with sand (as measured during the 1650.0
experimental campaign). 1600.0

1550.0
Table 2 1500.0
Mixing water needed in order to achieve the target workability and 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
respective results of the consistence test
% of incorporation
Mortar I(0) I(5) I(10)
Fig. 2. Dry bulk density of hardened mortar for the dierent incorpora-
Mixing water (ml/dm3) 190.00 170.00 170.00
tion ratios studied (average of 3 specimens; SD I(0) = 1.8 kg/m3; SD
Consistence (mm) (targeted for 175 2) 172.5 174.0 176.0
I(5) = 14.3 kg/m3; SD I(10) = 23.3 kg/m3).
558 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564
but also the space occupied by these bulkier aggregates,
increasing the overall volume). Therefore, the individual
density of each aggregate type becomes preponderant.
Since brick powder is less dense than sand, after the initial
lling of air voids, its incorporation implies a decrease of
the dry bulk density of the hardened mortars.
This trend does not occur in fresh mortars since, at this
stage, all voids are taken up by water and therefore the pre-
vailing trend is the one concerning the lower individual
density of the substitute aggregate (brick powder) as com-
pared with the original one (sand).
Almeida [3] concluded that the concrete mixes obtained
possessed a higher dry bulk density (and therefore higher
compactness) for nes incorporations lower than 15%.
Again, though not directly comparable to the present
one, the referred study on concrete provides a trend
indication.
2.4. Flexural and compressive strength of hardened mortar
This test was performed according to European Norm
EN 1015-11 (1999). For each type of mortar a sample of
3 specimens previously subjected to a curing period of 28
days was used. Results are presented in Figs. 3 and 4.
The gures show that the addition of nes originates
mortars with substantially higher exural and compressive
strength, increasing almost linearly with nes incorpora-
tion ratio.
These results may be explained, according to Angelim
et al. [2], by a smaller water/cement ratio (as compared
with the reference mortar), a higher compactness of the
hardened mortar (ller eect) and a possible chemical bond
(pozzolanic eect) of the brick nes to the hydrated cement
paste. These results imply a better performance of the mor-
tars with nes addition (5 and 10% of the total) both in
terms of exural and compressive strength. In addition,
Pan et al. [4], when studying SSA (sewage sludge ash), con-
cluded that its pozzolanic activity and the compressive
strength of SSA mortar increased when SSA neness did.
Flexural strength of hardened mortar
3.50
10
3.25
3.00
2.75 5 ences between mortars and concretes, were consulted to
MPa
2.50
2.25
0
2.00
1.75
1.50
0 2 4 6 8 10
% of incorporation
Fig. 3. Flexural strength of hardened mortar for the dierent incorpora-
tion ratios studied (average of 3 specimens; SD I(0) = 0.22 MPa; SD
I(5) = 0.06 MPa; SD I(10) = 0.15 MPa).
Compressive strength of hardened mortar
15.00
14.00 10
13.00
12.00 5
11.00
MPa
10.00
9.00
8.00 0
7.00
6.00
5.00
0 5 10 15
% of incorporation
Fig. 4. Compressive strength of hardened mortar for the dierent
incorporation ratios studied (average of 3 specimens; SD
I(0) = 1.09 MPa; SD I(5) = 0.68 MPa; SD I(10) = 0.64 MPa).
According to Fig. 5, the nes added in the present cam-
paign allowed better exural strength results than any of
the types of nes used by Angelim et al. [2]. Out of the
results presented by these authors, only the limestone nes
induce some improvement as compared with conventional
mortars (with no nes addition), even though signicantly
lower than the ones obtained with red clay (ceramic) nes.
As for compressive strength (Fig. 6), the results from the
addition of ceramic powder from red clay waste are clearly
more favorable for modied mortars than those presented
by Angelim et al. [2], where other types of nes are used.
Nevertheless, and contrary to the results of exural
strength, every modied mortar presents a gain in compres-
sive strength for a 5% nes incorporation (as compared
with the reference mortar). A further improvement when
the percentage goes from 5 to 10 only occurs for read clay
ceramics, in the present campaign.
Therefore, it is concluded that, out of the nes analyzed,
red clay brick powder is unquestionably the one that pro-
vides mortars with the best strength performance. These
comparative studies seem to strength the hypothesis of
the existence of some pozzolanic eect of the brick powder
(apparently inexistent for the other types of nes studied by
the authors quoted).
Some studies on concrete, although not directly compa-
rable to the present research due to the composition dier-
understand possible trends of the inuence of the incorpo-
ration of very ne aggregate on cementitious materials. For
concretes with stone slurry, according to Almeida [3], the
maximum strength is obtained for an incorporation ratio
of 5%. On the other hand, in an experimental analysis of
samples of recycled concrete (RC) with replacement of nat-
12 ural aggregate (NA) by recycled aggregate originating from
concrete (RCA) made by Gomez-Soberon [6], it was found
out that porosity increases considerably when NA is
replaced by RCA. Additionally, a reduction in the mechan-
ical properties of the RC is seen compared with ordinary
 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564 559

(Conventional mortar FS
3.5

(Modified mortar FS)/

3 Silva (ceramics)
2.5 Angelim (limestone)
2 Angelim (granulite)
1.5 Angelim (mica-slate)
1 Angelim (red gravel)

0.5
0
0 5 10 15 20
Incorporation ratio (%)
Fig. 5. Comparison of non-dimensional results obtained for exural strength (FS) of hardened mortar with those of Angelim et al. [2].

16
(Conventional mortar CS
(Modified mortar CS)/

14
12 Silva (ceramics)
10 Angelim (limestone)
8 Angelim (granulite)
6 Angelim (mica-slate)
4 Angelim (red gravel)
2
0
0 5 10 15 20
Incorporation ratio (%)
Fig. 6. Comparison of non-dimensional results obtained for compressive strength (CS) of hardened mortar with those of Angelim et al. [2].

concrete when porosity increases. This supports the theory Water absorption coefficient due to capillary action
of microller and pozzolanic behavior being the most inu- 1.00
ent factors in the results from the present campaign, since
0.90
such advantages were not used in the Gomez-Soberon [6]
kg/(m2.min0.5)

research. 0.80 0

2.5. Water absorption due to capillary action of hardened 0.70

mortar 5
0.60

This test was performed according to European norm 0.50

EN 1015-18 (2002). For each type of mortar a sample of
3 specimens (semi-prisms) previously subjected to a curing
period of 28 days and laterally waterproofed was used.
Results are presented in Fig. 7.
Results present an almost linear trend of the absorption
coecient with the incorporated nes ratio that can be
explained by the existence of less internal voids within
the hardened mortars due to the nes addition, thus pro-
viding thinner capillary vessels and a smaller water ux
within the mortar. Therefore, this property shows clear
improvement as nes are added until at least the maximum
ratio tested (10% of the overall aggregate).
2.6. Susceptibility to cracking
This characteristic was qualitatively evaluated through
an empirical method used at the National laboratory of
10
0.40
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
% of incorporation
Fig. 7. Water absorption due to capillary action of hardened mortar for
the dierent incorporation ratios studied (average of 3 specimens; SD
I(0) = 0.03 kg/m2 min0.5; SD I(5) = 0.00 kg/m2 min0.5; SD I(10) = 0.15,
0.01 kg/m2 min0.5).
civil engineering (LNEC). For each mortar type 3 speci-
mens are used, each of them consists on applying a 2 cm
mortar layer to a ceramic brick that is observed in order
to detect whether cracking occurs during a pre-determined
period. After 5 months observation none of the mortars
under test showed any signs of cracking (Fig. 8).
Even though only a small surface (the largest face of a
hollow brick) was used to apply the mortar, it can be con-
560 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564

Table 3
Results of the water retentivity test
Mortar I(0) I(10)
Average of 3 SD Average of 3 SD
specimens specimens
Water retentivity 72.24 1.84 85.10 0.56
(%)
SD standard deviation.

can happen for example with water vapor permeability).

Fig. 8. Result from the test of cracking susceptibility.
cluded that none of the mortars with nes addition ana-
lyzed is very susceptible to cracking, even though it is com-
monly considered that this addition may increase the
mortars potential to cracking due to shrinkage [7,2].
2.7. Selection of mortars for the second stage
Comparing the results obtained in this rst stage, mor-
tar I(10) was chosen for the second stage since it improved
every property analyzed and, on the other hand, the incor-
poration of a larger nes ratio is advantageous from a recy-
cling point of view.
However, the results obtained lead to the possibility of
an incorporation of more than 10% of this type of nes
in mortars having even more benecial eects than just
10%.
3. Second stage
This stage consisted on studying other also important
characteristics of the mortar selected in the rst stage in
order to obtain more detailed data on its overall
performance.
3.1. Water retentivity of fresh mortar
In one-coat industrial rendering mortars, for example,
water retention admixtures are used.
It can be thus concluded that the greater water retentiv-
ity of I(10) as compared with I(0)s implies a performance
improvement of the mortar, since it allows a better use of
the bonding properties of cement, with a greater potential
for complete hydration.
3.2. Dimensional instability (shrinkage)
This test was performed according to European Project-
Norm prEN 1015-13 (1993). For each type of mortar 3
specimens (prisms) were tested immediately after demoul-
ding. Results are presented in Fig. 9.
After 80 days, a higher shrinkage was detected in the
mortar with nes addition, even though only 13% over
the one measured for the reference mortar.
These results are consistent with the ones referred by
Kikuchi et al. [9], where the shrinkage of concrete increases
with the replacement of natural aggregates with recycled
ones (with a higher absorption, similarly to what happens
between the sand and the brick powder in the present cam-
paign). Although these results refer to concrete and not
mortar, they can be considered, together with the present
ones, as indicative of a trend. Therefore, since the dierence
between mortar I(10) and mortar I(0) is small, it is consid-
ered acceptable in relative terms for a rendering mortar.
Comparing the present results with those of Angelim
et al. [2] (Fig. 10), it is veried that the addition of nes
(up to around 10 to 15%) generally produces a slightly

This test was performed according to European Project- Dimensional instability (shrinkage)
Norm prEN 1015-8 (1998). For each mortar 3 specimens of
Dimensional variation (%)

fresh mortar were used. Results are presented in Table 3. -0.0050

3 6 7 14 21 28 40 56 70 80
Water retentivity of the mortar with 10% nes addition -0.0150
is higher than the one of the reference mortar. An appro- -0.0250
priate (high) water retentivity is essential for a rendering
mortar, because it avoids quick suction of water by the -0.0350
background and favors cement hydration reactions and a -0.0450 I(10)
consequent gain of mechanical and adhesive strength [7,8].
-0.0550 I(0)
Water retention allows avoiding its rapid suction by the
substrate and also its evaporation, both drying the mortar -0.0650
and impairing the complete hydration of cement, in which Time (days)
case part of the cement acts only as ller. It is thus a favor- Fig. 9. Time versus dimensional variation (average of 3 specimens; SD
able characteristic as long as others do not worsen (that I(0) = 0.001%; SD I(10) = 0.003%).
 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564 561

0.2

(Conventional mortar DV
0.18

(Modified mortar DV)/

0.16
Silva (ceramics)
0.14
0.12 Angelim (limestone)
0.1 Angelim (granulite)
0.08
Angelim (mica-slate)
0.06
0.04 Angelim (red gravel)
0.02
0
0 5 10 15 20
Incorporation ratio (%)
Fig. 10. Comparison of results obtained for dimensional variation (DV) of hardened mortar with those of Angelim et al. [2].

higher shrinkage of the modied mortars versus the refer-
ence mortar, with the exception of the incorporation of
5% mica-slate that seems to clearly decrease the mortars
shrinkage. On the other hand, only the addition of red
gravel leads to values of shrinkage that are considered
unacceptable as compared with those presented by the con-
ventional mortars (with no nes addition).
3.3. Adhesive strength of hardened mortar
This test was performed according to European Norm
EN 1015-12 (2000). For each type of mortar 3 specimens,
each one consisting of applying mortar to a bricks face,
were subjected to a 28 days curing period. Results are pre-
sented in Table 4.
Even though Amorim et al. [10] refer that the adhesive
strength decreases with the incorporation of nes, this is
another property that is clearly improved in the present
study. As a matter of fact, the incorporation of 10% of
brick powder instead of sand improved the adhesive
strength around 30% as compared with the reference
mortar.
3.4. Modulus of elasticity of hardened mortar
This test was performed according to the French Norm
NF B10-511F (1975). For each type of mortar 3 prismatic
specimens subjected to a curing period of 28 days were
used. Results are presented in Table 5.
There is some proximity between the results of the mod-
ulus of elasticity of mortars I(0) and I(10). This is probably
due to their similitude in terms of composition since only
10% of the overall mass of aggregates was replaced.
In terms of evolution of the modulus of elasticity with
age, the results of the reference mortar (a decrease with
time) are somehow unexpected. However, the decrease of
0.7 MPa is slight and may be due to some internal micro-
cracking that may have occurred between 2 months and
5 months of age. As a matter of fact, the kinetics of the
chemical reactions and the physical phenomena during
the rst months of a mortar are very complex. Thus their
interaction is not always completely predictable. It is well
known that shrinkage develops mainly during the rst
month and it decreases after that period, but on the con-
trary, as the mortar becomes less deformable, a lower
shrinkage can produce higher stress and sometimes this
interrelation of phenomena produce some micro-cracking
[7]. Therefore, it is not possible to be conclusive concerning
the long-term comparison of the modulus of elasticity of
the modied mortar versus the reference mortar. Neverthe-
less, a tendency of a slight reduction of the modulus of elas-
ticity with the incorporation of red clay brick nes, as
shown by the values measured at 2 months, is expected
given the lower stiness of the latter when compared with
sand. This reduction can be a positive trend for various
types of application of rendering mortars.
3.5. Water vapor permeability of hardened mortar
This test was performed in accordance with European
Norm EN 1015-19 (1998). For each type of mortar 3 spec-
imens, consisting on a mortar disk 20 mm thick previously

Table 5
Table 4 Results of the determination of the modulus of elasticity
Results of the adhesive strength test
Mortar I(0) I(10)
Mortar I(0) I(10)
Average of 3 SD Average of 3 SD
Average of 5 SD Average of 5 SD specimens specimens
determinations determinations
Modulus of elasticity 14.6 0.13 12.2 0.10
Adhesive 0.34 0.07 0.43 0.11 (GPa) (after 2 months)
strength Modulus of elasticity 13.9 0.10 15.6 0.08
(MPa) (GPa) (after 5 months)
SD standard deviation. SD standard deviation.
562 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564

Table 6 Table 7
Results of the water vapor permeability test Results of the water vapor permeability under pressure test after
weathering cycles
Mortar I(0) I(10)
Mortar I(0) I(10)
Average of SD Average of SD
3 3 Average of 2 SD Average of 2 SD
specimens specimens specimens specimens
Permeability (ng/(m.s.Pa)) 23.10 20.24 Permeability water 620 160 570 210
Thickness of the diusion air 0.16 0.00 0.18 0.00 absorbed (ml)
layer equivalent to 20 mm of SD standard deviation.
mortar (m)
SD standard deviation.
Table 8
Results of the adhesive strength test after weathering cycles
Mortar I(0) I(10)
subjected to a curing period of 60 days, were used. Results
Average of 5 SD Average of 5 SD
are presented in Table 6. A comparison with air is made by
determinations determinations
determining the thickness of diusion air layer equivalent
Adhesive 0.68 0.11 0.85 0.32
to 20 mm of mortar.
strength
Mortar I(10) is less permeable to water vapor than the (MPa)
reference mortar I(0). This is corroborated by Angelim
SD standard deviation.
et al. [2], where it was concluded that the nes incorpora-
tion decreases the permeability, both for liquid water and
water vapor. lower permeability to liquid pressurized water. However,
For water vapor, a reduced permeability is a negative a reduced permeability to liquid water is a positive factor,
factor in a mortar, since it does not allow a proper drying since it limits water penetrating the mortar.
of the water that penetrates it and impairs the elimination That being the case and even though the dierence is not
of water vapor that occurs within buildings. very signicant, the lesser permeability to water reported
However, since the decrease in the values of the perme- by the mortar with nes addition, I(10), implies a better
ability from the reference mortar to the modied mortar is performance in terms of this characteristic versus the refer-
not very signicant (approximately 9%), it can be consid- ence mortar, I(0).
ered that the latter has sucient permeability to perform In what concerns the adhesive test after weathering, val-
well as a rendering mortar. ues clearly higher (approximately twice Tables 4 and 8)
On the other hand, this factor may indicate positive were obtained as compared with the similar test without
characteristics such as a lower water absorption due to cap- weathering, even though rupture was cohesive for the refer-
illary action (already detected in the rst stage) or even a ence mortar (within the mortar itself) contrarily to the
lower permeability to water under pressure (analyzed next), modied mortar whose rupture occurred in the interface
since all these aspects depend to a great degree on the mortar/substrate. This leads to believing that the real adhe-
quantity and size of the pores which are a consequence of sive strength of the reference mortar is higher than the
the relationship between the dimensions of the nes and value presented, which is an inferior limit, only representa-
the granular frame of the system cement/sand. tive of its tension strength. Nevertheless, this value is
referred to further on as the adhesive strength of mortar
3.6. Compatibility with substrates (weathering) I(0).
The comparison of the adhesive strength after weather-
This test was performed based on European Norm EN ing of mortars I(0) and I(10) shows that, as for the similar
1015-21 (2002). For each type of mortar 3 specimens, con- test without previous weathering, the strength of the mor-
sisting of applying mortar to the face of 2 bricks joined tar with incorporation of nes is higher than that of the ref-
face-to-face and subjected to a 3 week curing period, were erence mortar and with approximately the same percentage
used. The test consists on subjecting the specimens to cli- of increase (25).
matic cycles, whose eects are evaluated through two dif- It can thus be concluded that weathering improved by
ferent tests, water permeability and adhesive strength. more or less the same ratio the performance of both mor-
The second test is also performed, as seen in Table 4, before tars tested and that modied mortars behave better both
the articial weathering of the specimens. Results are pre- before and after weathering.
sented in Tables 7 and 8, respectively. The fact that adhesive strength increases with weather-
The permeability of mortar I(10) to liquid water under ing is probably related with the evolution of hydration dur-
pressure, similarly to water vapor, is less than the one of ing the cycles moistening/drying and the consequent
the reference mortar I(0). This is coherent with the trend development of the hydration products within the substrate
related by various authors [7,9] that associates a lower per- pores contributing to the bond. In fact, due to the dry cure
meability to water vapor in cementitious materials with a conditions proposed by EN 1015-21 (28 days in a 20 C
 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564
and 65% HR atmosphere) it is probable that cement hydra-
tion is far from being complete before the cycles.
4. Conclusions
The analysis of the values of all the properties tested for
the mortar with a 10% replacement of aggregates, I(10),
shows that the incorporation of red-brick recycled nes
in mortars causes a general improvement of its perfor-
mance as compared with the one of a conventional mortar,
I(0), namely considering its use as a rendering mortar, with
the sole exception of shrinkage and water vapor
permeability.
Additionally, when the performance of mortar I(10) was
worse, the dierence was not signicant: shrinkage
increased by around 13% and water vapor permeability
was reduced around 25%.
In general terms and since it leads to the recycling of
material that would be otherwise useless waste, it can thus
be stated that mortar I(10) leads to signicantly better
results than the reference mortar.
On the other hand, mortar I(5), even though only tested
in the rst stage, also showed very good results, in every
case with a better performance than mortar I(0) but in
average not as good as mortar I(10).
It is thus concluded that for most of the properties
under analysis 10% is the best nes incorporation ratio
among the proportions tested. There is a possibility
that the optimal proportion is even higher than 10%,
but to conrm this it would be necessary to verify the
adequacy of the properties obtained for higher replace-
ment ratios, namely concerning water vapor permeability
and shrinkage.
The study performed seems therefore to point out valid
pathways to improve the performance of rendering mortars
through the incorporation in their composition of ceramic
waste nes. The optimization of the incorporation ratio
must be pursued through test programs with higher per-
centages, and their analysis considering the expected func-
tion of the mortar.
5. Standards used in the experimental work
EN 1015-3, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 3: Determination of consistence
of fresh mortar (by ow table), European Committee for
Standardization (CEN), February 1999.
EN 1015-6, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 6: Determination of bulk den-
sity of fresh mortar, European Committee for Standardi-
zation (CEN), October 1998.
prEN 1015-8, draft European Standard, Methods of
test for mortar for masonry - Part 8: Determination of
water retentivity of fresh mortar, European Committee
for Standardization (CEN), October 1998.
EN 1015-10, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry - Part 10: Determination of dry bulk
563
density of hardened mortar, European Committee for
Standardization (CEN), August 1999.
EN 1015-11, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 11: Determination of exural
and compressive strength of hardened mortar, English
European Committee for Standardization (CEN), August
1999.
EN 1015-12, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 12: Determination of adhesive
strength of hardened rendering and plastering mortars on
substrates, European Committee for Standardization
(CEN), February 2000.
prEN 1015-13, draft European Standard, Methods of
test for mortar for masonry Part 13: Determination of
dimensional stability of hardened mortars, European
Committee for Standardization (CEN), February 1993.
EN 1015-18, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 18: Determination of water
absorption coecient due to capillary action of hardened
mortar, European Committee for Standardization
(CEN), December 2002.
EN 1015-19, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 19: Determination of water
vapour permeability of hardened rendering and plastering
mortars, European Committee for Standardization
(CEN), September 1998.
EN 1015-21, European Standard, Methods of test for
mortar for masonry Part 19: Determination of the com-
patibility of one-coat rendering mortars with substrates,
European Committee for Standardization (CEN), March
2002.
NF B 10-511, Norme Francaise Homologue, Mesure
du module delasticite dynamique, Association Francaise
de Normalisation (AFNOR), April 1975.
Acknowledgements
The authors thankfully acknowledge the support of the
ICIST Research Institute from IST, Technical University
of Lisbon and of FCT (Foundation for Science and Tech-
nology).
References
[1] Silva J. Incorporation of red-brick waste in cementitious mortars
(in Portuguese). Masters in Construction Dissertation, Instituto
Superior Tecnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 2006, p.
224.
[2] Angelim RR, Angelim SCM, Carasek H. Inuence of the addition of
limestone, siliceous and clayish nes in the properties of mortars and
renderings (in Portuguese). V Brazilian Symposium of Mortars
Technology (SBTA), June 2003.
[3] Almeida N. Reuse of slurry from dimension stone industry in
concrete production (in Portuguese), Masters in Construction Disser-
tation, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Technical University of Lisbon,
Lisbon, 2004, p. 216.
[4] Pan S-C, Tseng D-H, Lee C-C, Lee C. Inuence of the neness of
sewage sludge ash on the mortar properties. Cement Concrete Res
2003;33(11):174954.
564 J. Silva et al. / Construction and Building Materials 23 (2009) 556564
[5] Silva VS, Liborio JBL, Silva CR. Rendering mortars using burnt clay
pozzolan (in Portuguese), III Brazilian Symposium of Mortars
Technology (SBTA), April 1999.
[6] Gomez-Soberon JMV. Porosity of recycled concrete with substitution
of recycled concrete aggregate an experimental study. Cement
Concrete Res 2005;35(10):200813.
[7] Veiga MR. Performance of rendering mortars. Contribution to the
study of their cracking resistance (in Portuguese), PhD in Civil
Engineering Thesis, Engineering Faculty from Porto University
Porto, May 1997, p. 458.
[8] Resende MM. Pathology of mortar renderings (in Portuguese),
Technology of Production of Renderings, Department of Civil
Engineering, Polytechnic School of the Sao Paulo University, Sao
Paulo, May 2001.
[9] Kikuchi M, Miura T, Dosho Y, Narikawa M. Application of recycled
aggregate concrete for structural concrete. Part 1 experimental
study on the quality of recycled aggregate and recycled aggregate
concrete, International symposium: Use of recycled concrete aggre-
gate, the Concrete Technology Unit, University of Dundee, Scotland,
November 1998.
[10] Amorim LV, Lira HL, Ferreira HC. Use of residential construction
waste and residues from ceramic industry in alternative mortars. J
Environ Eng 2003;129(10):91620. ASCE.