Influence of Air-Entraining and Water-Retaining Admixtures on Eco-Efficient Mortars Containing Wood Ash and Sewage Treatment Plant Sludge
摘要
One of the primary challenges in achieving sustainable development is managing the waste generated by human activities, particularly from industrial processes. In this context, waste from the furniture industry can be repurposed into valuable products for building construction. However, there is a lack of previous research on the effects of air-entraining admixtures (AEAs) and water-retaining admixtures (WRAs) in cementitious matrices with furniture industry waste. To address this research gap, this work aimed to assess the technical feasibility of producing recycled masonry mortars by replacing Portland cement with wood ash and sewage treatment plant sludge, and incorporating varying dosages of AEAs and WRAs. The results showed that all mortars containing WRA maintained water retention levels above 95%, classifying them as materials with strong water retention. For mortars with lower ash content, air entrainment increased with AEA dosages values up to 0.002%, after which it stabilized, signaling a saturation point. Mortars with higher ash content exhibited a continuous increase in air entrainment as the AEA dosage increased. The combination of AEA, WRA, and different types of furniture industry waste appears to be a promising approach for producing recycled masonry mortars.