Production of monolithic ceramics using demolition debris and other waste materials

The present research is concerned with the production and characterization of ceramic materials obtained using demolition debris alone or in mixtures with bottom ash from an incinerator of municipal solid waste, incinerated sewage sludge and steelmaking slag. Blending of the different components was performed by attrition milling. Milled and dried powders were uniaxially pressed into specimens which were sintered and characterized by shrinkage on firing, density, water absorption, hardness, strength, fracture toughness measurements as well as by XRD and SEM investigations. The fired samples were also tested in acid environment (HCI) in order to evaluate their leaching behaviour. All materials produced have low water absorption, fine microstructures, good mechanical properties and the release of most of the hazardous metals contained in the starting powders is low. On the contrary, shrinkage on firing is high for most of the compositions studied.