An assessment of terrazzo tile properties: effect of waste incineration bottom ash content

Tóm tắt

The increasing scarcity of natural aggregates and the rising cost of raw materials in the construction industry are driving the demand for sustainable alternatives. At the same time, municipal solid waste incineration generates significant volumes of bottom ash, which is typically landfilled, posing environmental and economic challenges. This study explores the technical and economic feasibility of using waste incineration bottom ash (WIBA), blended with coal thermal fly ash (FA), as a partial or full substitute for crushed sand in the production of terrazzo tiles—a high-value, architectural cementitious product requiring strong mechanical performance and a polished surface finish. Five mix designs were developed, with WIBA-FA blends at a fixed WIBA:FA ratio of 75:25 by mass were used to replace 0% (control), 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% crushed sand in the mixtures. The tiles were fabricated using a semi-dry pressing method and cured for 28 days before testing. Experimental evaluation included flexural and compressive strengths, full and surface water absorption, surface abrasion resistance, and material cost analysis. Results showed that the mix (X5) with 70% WIBA inclusion achieved a 30.1% reduction in cost while meeting all technical requirements, with compressive and flexural strengths of 28.6 MPa and 3.8 MPa, respectively. Moreover, a multivariate overall performance score was developed to identify the optimal formulation by integrating normalized strength, durability, and cost metrics. The experimental outcomes demonstrate the viability of using WIBA–FA blends in high-finish terrazzo tiles and contribute a quantitative framework for material optimization under sustainability and performance constraints.