The influence of recycled aggregates on the performance of cement mixtures

Incorporating waste into the production of cementitious mixtures in civil construction represents a viable alternative to minimize environmental impacts and reduce the extraction of natural resources, offering a sustainable process based on material reuse while also tending to lower production costs and enhance product competitiveness. This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing waste from the beneficiation of iron ore, marble, and quartz for the production of mortars composed of Portland cement, sand, silica fume, and waste materials. To determine the optimal proportion among the constituent materials, the Elkem Materials Mixture Analyzer (EMMA) computational tool was employed, enabling a more efficient particle packing and significantly reducing the internal voids within the composite structure, thus improving the overall quality and performance of the final product. The mixtures were evaluated through the following tests: at 28 days of curing, compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and water absorption by immersion, all in accordance with Brazilian standards. The CO 2 emissions mixtures are verified. The results indicated that the mixtures exhibited satisfactory performance across the evaluated properties, with iron ore waste particularly contributing to enhanced composite performance but it is very important research about balance between reuse waste and sustainable development. This research underscores the importance of sustainable solutions in civil construction, promoting the use of recycled materials that not only mitigate environmental impacts but also improve the mechanical and durability properties of cementitious mixtures, favoring the development of a more contemporary and sustainable production model.