Evaluation of Different Treatment Techniques in Recycled Aggregates for Use in the Production of Concrete

The results of 5 months of research in the topic Concrete produced with 100% recycled aggregates are presented. We worked with a mixed type recycled material from Madrid, Spain and the tests were carried out in the laboratory (OBP) of the University of Applied Sciences of Karlsruhe, Germany. The recycled material was characterized and separated into three fractions for use as aggregates in the production of concretes (i) fine fraction 0–4 mm (ii) intermediate fraction 4–9 mm (iii) coarse fraction of 9–16 mm. To improve the properties of the recycled aggregates, different treatments were used for each of the fractions (i) accelerated carbonation of the fine fraction, (ii) encapsulation of the intermediate fraction with steam curing, (iii) use of MSC, in this case an active mineral addition of calcined clay-limestone base, denominated by its acronym in English LC2. Established as state parameters for accelerated carbonation of the fine fraction Relative Humidity = 75%, CO₂ concentration = 20% and residence time of 24 h, which resulted in an increase of 0.7% in the formation of Calcite with respect to the fine fraction without carbonation, the absorption of water decreased by 0.63% and the resistance in mortars after 28 days of curing exceeded by 0.89% the strength of the fraction without carbonation, 28 Mpa and 31, 43 Mpa respectively. For the steam curing of the encapsulated fraction, it was worked under conditions of temperature lower than 60 °C and a residence time of 30 min, obtaining a decrease of 0.75% in the absorption of water with respect to the material without encapsulating. In the concretes produced with the treated aggregates, the best performance series was that which uses a combination of fine carbonated aggregate, encapsulated intermediate aggregate with steam curing and Portland cement 32.5 Mpa.