Mechanical properties of cement composites with plasma-treated waste glass aggregate

Abstract

This research focuses on evaluating the effect of low-temperature plasma surface treatment of finely ground recycled glass on the mechanical properties of cement composites. The use of waste glass in construction represents an environmentally friendly alternative, but its application may cause alkalisilica reaction (ASR), leading to material degradation. To prevent this phenomenon, plasma treatment was applied with the aim of improving the adhesion of glass particles to the cement matrix, enabling the partial replacement of traditional filler materials. In cement composites, glass primarily functions as an alternative fine aggregate. Its use offers several potential advantages, including improving the pozzolanic properties of the composite, meaning it reacts with calcium hydroxide, thereby contributing to the formation of additional binding phases. In this way, glass not only replaces traditional fillers but also enhances the long-term mechanical properties of the material. However, inappropriate particle size or high reactivity of the glass may lead to ASR, which causes cracking and degradation of the material. Plasma treatment was employed to mitigate these negative effects by enhancing the adhesion between glass particles and the cement matrix, thereby increasing the overall cohesion, strength, and resistance of the composite to environmental influences and degradation. The samples were tested for compressive strength and bulk density after 28, and 168 days of curing. The results indicated that plasma treatment, particularly with oxygen, led to a moderate improvement in mechanical properties compared to untreated samples, but the values did not reach the levels observed in the reference sample without glass powder.