Effects on concrete durability of using recycled ceramic aggregates

Ceramic waste from ceramic and construction industries is one of the most important parts in the global volume of construction and demolition waste (CDW). Ceramic waste may have several uses, one of which as coarse aggregate for concrete artefacts. Within a research campaign in course at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), concerning the reuse and recycling of CDW, the viability of replacing primary limestone aggregates with ceramic waste on the production of concrete pavement slabs has been studied. Compression and bending tests previously performed have shown the mechanical suitability of replacing, at least partially, limestone aggregates with ceramic recycled ones. In this paper, the results of the water absorption tests, either by capillarity or by immersion, and the results of the abrasion resistance tests are presented, all related to long-term concrete durability.