Effect of friction reclaimed materials of waste brake-shoe on basic performance of mortar

Discarded train brake shoes mainly consist of steel-backed friction material. To be better reutilized, its essential features and its interaction in cement-based material need to be studied. Consequently, particle size analysis, SEM, IR and TGA were used to investigate two types of waste brake shoes, i e, mechanical grinding friction reclaimed material of waste brake-shoe (G-FRMWBS) and pyrolysis-friction reclaimed materials of waste brake-shoe (P-FRMWBS). The latter exhibited less organic content, larger range of particle size distribution and smaller medium particle diameter. Both types contained inorganic particles of spherical and irregular shapes, striped with steel fiber. Upon isometric substituting fine aggregates, G-FRMWBS lifted the strength of mortar effectively that was increased by 16.6% and 17.5% when the replacing rate was 5%; the value went up to 19.2% and 19.2% when the replacing rate was 10%. Moreover, inclusion of FRMWBS enhanced the chloride penetration resistance, and optimized the pore characteristic and ITZ (interfacial transition zone) as well.