Silica sand substitutes in autoclaved aerated concrete: utilisation of secondary raw materials
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14311/AP.2026.66.0196Keywords:
autoclaved aerated concrete, waste foundry sand, waste glassAbstract
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the use of non-traditional secondary raw materials as a partial replacement for silica sand in the autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Three types of foundry sand from different sources and three varieties of waste glass (WG) were selected and subjected to experimental evaluation at substitution levels of 5 %, 10 %, and 15 %. The experimental verification reveals that using foundry sand and WG results in physico-mechanical and mineralogical properties comparable to, and in certain cases superior to, conventional AAC formulations. Conversely, brown and mixed WG led to the formation of atypical mineral phases, which significantly influenced the characteristics of AAC. Of the evaluated materials, foundry sand sourced from non-ferrous casting operations emerged as the most promising alternative, particularly at a 10% substitution, where enhanced strength and an optimised microstructure were observed. The article presents a structured experimental methodology, segmented into three stages: the selection and preparation of secondary raw materials, a comprehensive assessment of their physico-mechanical properties, and an advanced microstructural characterisation. The findings underscore the feasibility of using these secondary raw materials in AAC manufacturing without compromising material performance.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Lenka Mészárosová, Vít Černý, Jindřich Melichar, Winfried Malorny, Rostislav Drochytka
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