Processing of laboratory concrete demolition waste using ball mill

Abstract

The demand for natural aggregates in the twenty-first century is at an all-time high due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development. Finding alternative aggregate materials is a challenge for achieving construction sustainability. Both the depletion of natural resources and the improper disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste can be ameliorated by the widespread use of recycled aggregates in construction. Due to the attached mortar, aggregates from C&D waste must be processed before using them in concrete. Various combinations of ball mill processing parameters were used to produce relatively higher-quality aggregates. Water absorption was used as the primary criterion for determining the quality of processed aggregates. The water absorption capacity of recycled coarse aggregate was found to be decreased from 5.8% to 1.5% as a result of effectively removing the attached mortar by employing ball mill processing. Specific gravity, impact, and crushing values are also improved after processing, as discussed and illustrated in this paper. © 2023