Concreto permeável com agregados reciclados de resíduos de isoladores elétricos de porcelana

Abstract

The generation of waste, in general, can bring many environment issues due to their improper disposal, making necessary to search for alternative methods for handling, treatment and final disposal of them. The Brazilian National Solid Waste Policy of 2010 defines that the solid waste generated in Brazilian territory, of any kind, should be, in their generators processes, reduced, treated and reused within the concept of sustainable development. It is estimated that Brazil produces annually 30,000 tons of electrical porcelain insulators to supply its power grid with a waste generation around 10% of the total production. In this scenario, the search for alternatives to the use of waste electrical porcelain insulators on new products has attracted academic and technological interest. In this study, waste electrical porcelain insulators (RIP) were comminuted in sizes compatible for use in permeable concrete. They were characterized by physical analysis (particle size distribution, shape index, water absorption and specific mass). Based on the characterization of RIP, an experimental matrix was proposed, to evaluate permeable concrete by incorporating 50 to 100%wt of RIP instead of coarse aggregate. The mechanical strength properties under compression, tension in bending and the modulus of elasticity of aforementioned proportions were compared to a reference concrete. The results of mechanical strength under compression for the proposed permeable concrete showed lower values than for the reference (values of 21 and 24% for 50 and 100 %wt of RIP, respectively). In tension in bending, the results were 38 and 46.5 % lower for 50 and 100%wt of RIP, respectively. The modulus of elasticity of the proportion 50%wt of RIP was 6.4% lower than the reference, while for the proportion 100%wt of RIP was 3.13% higher than the reference. The results of mechanical strength under compressive tensile, bending and the modulus of elasticity for the specific permeable concrete are within the reported values in the literature for this kind of material. The void index results for the permeable concrete and the reference were in a range from 12.5 to 18.2% and the results of the permeability coefficient were in a range of 0.05 to 0.2 cm s-1 in the sample dry condition and of 0.14 to 0.15 cm s-1 in the sample saturated condition, however they lie within the literature reported values for permeable concrete. The results demonstrate that it is possible to use waste electrical porcelain insulators replacing coarse aggregate, enabling the incorporation of up to 100% of RIP in permeable concrete.