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The effect of using granite dust as a component of concrete mixture

Grzegorz Prokopski, Vitaliy Marchuk, Andriy Huts

PII: S2214-5095(20)30021-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2020.e00349
Reference: CSCM 349

To appear in: Case Studies in Construction Materials

Received Date: 10 January 2020

Revised Date: 28 February 2020
Accepted Date: 2 March 2020

Please cite this article as: Prokopski G, Marchuk V, Huts A, The effect of using granite dust as
a component of concrete mixture, Case Studies in Construction Materials (2020),
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2020.e00349

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The effect of using granite dust as a component of concrete mixture

Grzegorz Prokopskia, Vitaliy Marchukb, Andriy Hutsa*

a
The Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of
Technology, Poznanska 2, 35084, Rzeszow, Poland
b
Institute of Building and Architecture, National University of Water and Environmental Engineering,
Soborna 11, 33028, Rivne, Ukraine
*
Corresponding author, e-mail address: a.huts@prz.edu.pl

Abstract

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The article considers the possibility of significant improvement of technical properties of granite concrete
with the addition of granite dust. Concrete investigations were carried out in the "Portland cement -
granite dust - sand" system. It is established that the fresh properties of concrete mixtures and the kinetics

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of concrete hardening on the basis of granite dust slightly differs from the consistency and character of
the strength increase of regular concrete. It is characterized by a more intensive of strength gain and a
mixture of "sticky" consistency. The addition of granite dust leads to an increase in the average density of
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concrete. Due to the partial replacement of sand with dust, the microstructure of the cement matrix is
compacted, which is the main reason for increasing the strength of concrete with dust. Granite dust has a
positive effect on both the early and grade strength of concrete, as well as the strength after 90 and 180
days of hardening. The results of experimental research of concrete filled with granite dust at use of CEM
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I 32,5 R and CEM I 42,5 R are presented. It can be noted that by using CEM I 32,5 R, the strength
increase at the age of 3, 7 and 28 days is 24 – 25 %, which is slightly higher compared to using CEM I
42,5 R, where the increase in strength is 17 – 19 % compared to control samples without granite dust. The
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introduction of granite dust into the concrete mixture leads to a reduction of water absorption by
32 – 38 % and water penetration by 60 – 70 %.

Keywords: granite dust, cone slump, compressive strength, water penetration, water absorption
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1. Introduction

The main tendency of the modern development of the construction and building industry is their
transition to cost-effective energy-saving production technologies, while ensuring the high
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quality of building materials and structures. At the current stage of development of building
construction in the world there is a significant increase in the use of industrial waste due to the
rapid rise in energy prices and the need to expand the raw material base.
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Portland cement-based structures are most widely used in construction, the most energy-
intensive component of which is cement clinker, so it is advisable to develop technologies that
provide a significant reduction in the clinker-factor while maintaining and improving the quality
of concrete and mortars. As a rule, cement accounts for 50-70% of energy consumption in
concrete production. Therefore, the effective direction of reducing the consumption of binders in
concrete and regulating their construction and technical properties is the introduction of active
mineral additives and fine-graded fillers of different origin.
Usually, waste materials of production from thermal power plants, metallurgical enterprises,
enterprises of producing non-metallic materials are used as fillers.
One of the ingredients of concrete can be a dispersed filler, which is actively involved in the
curing and structuring of mixtures. In the conditions of energy resources deficiency, gradual
depletion of natural raw materials and aggravation of environmental problems, development of
materials with the use of wastes of various types of industries is an important direction in the
production of concrete and mortars. Studies have shown that technogenic materials [1-9] can be
successfully used as fillers, which also allows to solve environmental problems rationally.
The rheological properties of cement mortars and concrete mixtures are positively influenced by
the addition of marble dust [10] and limestone powder [11]. Compressive strength of cement
mortars increases with the addition of granite powder [12] and basalt powder [13-15]. The
dispersion component fills the space between the sand grains and creates a rigid structure,
improving the density and rheological properties of the cement slurry.
Stone crushing plants accumulate a large amount of granite dust, which is captured by bag filters
during crushing granite. In many cases, granite dust is currently not used and is stored in waste
dumps, polluting the environment. Thus, the use of wastes of technogenic origin in the
production of building materials is becoming more and more widespread, and the development
of technology for the production of energy-efficient concrete and solutions using granite dust is
relevant at the present time. The use of accumulated technogenic raw materials will lead to the
improvement of the environment and will allow for the reclamation of land under the dumps.

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2. Experimental details

2.1. Materials used

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- Cement: CEM I 32,5 R and CEM I 42,5 R were used. The physical and mechanical
properties of the used Portland cements comply with the requirement according to PN-

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EN 197-1:2012 [16]. -p
Aggregates: granite aggregate of fractions 6-8 mm, 8-11 mm, 11-16 mm and sand
according to PN-EN 12620:2004 [17] were used.
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- Superplasticizer: MasterGlenium 115 – high-performance superplasticizer based on
polycarboxylic ethers was used.
- Granite dust: physical and mechanical parameters of granite dust are shown in Table 1.
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The particle size distribution are shown on Fig.1.

2.2. Experimental methods

The choice of experimental methods used in the work was determined by the nature of the
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research tasks. The complex of basic construction and technical properties of fresh and hardened
concretes mixtures on the basis of granite dust was studied using the methods of current
standards.
- Consistency: the slump test method was used [18]. The concrete mix is compacted into a
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mould in the shape of a frustum of a cone. After removing the mould, the slump of the
concrete mix cone is a measure of its consistency.
- Compressive strength: determined on cubic specimens [19]. The concrete was formed in
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two layers and compacted on a vibrating table. After 24 hours moulds are removed and
test specimens are put into the chamber with humidity of (95±5)% for curing. Specimens
are tested by compression testing machine at different ages of curing.
- Water absorption: determined on cubic specimens (10 x 10 x 10 cm) [20]. The specimens
were curing 28 days in the chamber with humidity of (95±5)%. Further, the samples were
placed in a bath container and flooded to a half of their height with water. After 24 hours,
water was added to a level 10 mm higher than the sample height. Every 24 hours the
samples were taken out of the water and weighed. After obtaining a constant weight, the
sample was dried at 105 – 110 oC.
- Water penetration: determined on cubic specimens (15 x 15 x 15 cm) [21]. After moulds
removing, the surface to which the water pressure will be transferred is roughened with a
 wire brush. The test begins after 28 days of curing. The sample is placed in the device
and water is applied at (500±50) kPa for (72±2) hours. After the specified time, the
sample is split and the water penetration depth is measured.

2.3. Concrete mixture proportion

All experiments were carried out using two types of cement – CEM I 32,5 R and CEM I 42,5 R.
The control mixtures (mixes 32,5-G0 and 42,5-G0) for each type of cement have been
implemented. To study the effect of the addition of granite dust into the concrete mixture, part of
the sand was replaced by granite dust in the amount of 200 kg/m3 (mixes 32,5-G200 and 42,5-
G200) and 300 kg/m3 in mixtures 32,5-G300 and 42,5-G300. The water/cement ratio in all types
of mixes was 0,51. The components of concrete mixtures are shown in Table 2.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Consistency

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The consistency of the concrete mixtures was tested by the cone slump method according to the
PN-EN 12350-2:2001. A characteristic feature of the experiments was the change of consistency
in a wide range from stiff to very fluid and self-compacting. Consistency of all concrete mixtures

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are shown on Fig.2.

The consistency of fresh concrete with granite dust differs from the consistency of ordinary
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concrete without granite dust. It is characterized by the production of mixtures of "sticky"
consistency. When exposed to external forces, vibration, compaction, behaves as a self-
compacting mixture. Addition of 200 kg/m3 of granite dust into concrete mixtures increases
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slump from 11-12 cm up to 15-16 cm, but the increase in the amount of which up to 300 kg/m3
slightly reduces slump. Analyzing the data obtained in Table 3, it can be concluded that the
addition of granite dust leads to an increase in the average density of concrete. An important
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factor in the impact of granite dust on the average density of concrete is the "micro-filler effect".
This is due to the physical effect that small particles usually have a finer particle size distribution
than sand, part of which has been replaced by dust, resulting in a more densely packed mineral
concrete component and reduced porosity of the cement stone in the concrete.
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3.2. Compressive strength

In order to assess the influence of granite dust on the properties of concrete mixtures and
concretes, standard cube samples (15×15×15 cm) were made, which were hardened under
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normal conditions (humidity: 95±5%, temperature: 20±3oC). The compressive strength of 9

samples was determined at the age of 3, 7, 28, 90 and 180 days according to PN-EN 12390-
3:2002. Compressive strength tests were carried out on the device FormTest PRUFSYSTEME
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Type ALPHA 3-3000 S. The obtained experimental results are presented in Table 3.

The kinetics of concrete hardening with the addition of granite dust has a faster rate of strength
increase (Fig.3).

Granite dust has a much smaller grain size than sand (Fig. 1). Due to the partial replacement of
sand with dust, the microstructure of the cement matrix is compacted (Fig. 4), which is the main
reason for increasing the strength of concrete with dust. Granite dust has a positive effect on the
early strength of concrete, as well as the strength after 90 and 180 days of hardening of samples.
It can be noted that with the use of CEM I 32,5 R, the increase in strength at the age of 3 and 7
days is 24 and 25% respectively, which is slightly higher compared to the use of CEM I 42,5 R,
where the increase in strength is 17 and 19% respectively. The impact on the compressive
strength of 28 days is similar, and at a later age (90 and 180 days) when using CEM I 42,5 R
there is an increase in strength by 6,5 and 10,5%, respectively, and with the use of CEM I 32,5 R
by 15,5 and 21,3% compared to the control samples without granite dust.

3.3. Microstructure

Microscopic analysis of 42,5-G0 and 42,5-G200 samples at the age of 28 days was performed to
assess the effect of granite dust on the microstructure of concrete. The microstructure of concrete
without and with granite dust was studied using a scanning microscope type JSM-5500 LV. The
dominant mineral phases in the samples under study were C-S-H phase and portlandite. The first
of them is found mainly in a small number of needle-shaped crystals. Portlandite, which is the
result of the hydration of alite (C3S) and belite (C2S), forms massive hexagonal crystals.
Influence on the microstructure of concrete depending on the amount of granite dust dosage is
clearly visible from the results of pore structure assessment. In this cement system with fine
filler, granite dust does not isolate the surface of new phases and does not block the formation of
compounds while it has contact with crystalline hydrates. This condition can be fulfilled by

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optimizing the volume fraction of the dispersion material in the mixed system. In the case of an
inert filler, a volume comparable to the pore volume of capillaries may be the optimum quantity
for filling cavities and compacting the structure. Hydration products settle on fine dust particles

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and these particles form the crystallization center (Fig. 4).

3.4. Water absorption

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The tests were carried out on five cube specimens (10×10×10 cm) after curing under normal
conditions for 28 days. Water absorption was determined by measuring the increase in weight of
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the samples before and after drying (Fig. 5, Table 3) according to PN-EN 206:2014.

The addition of granite dust has a significant impact on concrete water absorption. There is a
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clearly defined tendency to reduce water absorption when sand is replaced with granite dust.
Granite dust in the amount of 200 kg leads to a decrease in water absorption from 4,92% and
4,86% to 3,45% and 3,9% using CEM I 42,5 R and CEM I 32,5 R respectively. It has been found
that increasing in the content of a dust to a 300 kg/m3 leads to a further decrease in water
absorption of samples made with CEM I 42,5 R to 3,02 %.
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3.5. Water penetration

Water penetration was studied on 6 cube samples (15×15×15 cm) on the age of 28 days
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according to PN-EN 12390-8:2011. Water was fed at a pressure of 500 kPa. After 72 hours the
samples were split and the depth of water penetration measured. Tests result are shown on Fig.6
and Table 3.
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Mixtures with granite dust have lower capillary capacity for water lifting (water penetration)
than standard samples. The introduction of dispersed granite filler reduces the total pore volume,
average pore diameter and porosity, ensuring low water penetration. Samples made on CEM I
42,5 R have a significantly lower penetration than on CEM I 32,5 R. Increase in the amount of
granite dust up to 300 kg reduces water penetration of the samples of concrete from 67 mm to 18
mm (CEM I 42,5 R) and from 81 mm to 31 mm (CEM I 32,5 R).

4. Conclusions
On the basis of the test results of concrete containing granite dust, the following conclusions are
made:
 - Use of a granite powder in concrete mixes increases workability.
- Replacing sand with disperse granite dust can significantly affect the porosity, resulting
in increased density of concrete.
- Photos of the microstructure of cement paste with granite dust obtained by scanning
microscopy indicate that the small particles act as center of crystallization, i.e. accelerate
the initial stage of chemical curing.
- Introduction of granite dust in the amount of 200 – 300 kg/m3 of concrete mixtures
increase the average compressive strength at all curing times: early age, 28 days, as well
as in a later period of 90 and 180 days.
- The introduction of disperse granite filler reduces the total volume of pores, the average
pore diameter and porosity, and reduces water absorption and water penetration.
- Granite dust is useful as a component of concrete.

Declaration of interests

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships
that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Conflict of interests

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments
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The financial support for this study is provided by Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszow,
Poland.
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Research, 30(2000), 1827-1834, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(00)00402-6.
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[16] PN - EN 197-1:2012.
[17] PN - EN 12620:2004.
[18] PN - EN 12350-2:2001.
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[19] PN - EN 12390-3:2002.
[20] PN - EN 206:2014.
[21] PN - EN 12390-8:2011.
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 120

Percentage passing through

100

sieve 80

60 Granite dust

40 Sand

20

0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sieve sizes
Fig.1. Particle size distribution of granite dust and sand.

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Slump [cm]
18

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16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
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0
42,5-G0 32,5-G0 42,5-G200 32,5-G200 42,5-G300 32,5-G300
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Fig.2. Slump of concrete mixtures

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Compressive strength [MPa]

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70
60 3
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50 7
40
28
30
90
20
10 180

0
42,5-G0 32,5-G0 42,5-G200 32,5-G200 42,5-G300 32,5-G300

Fig.3. Compressive strength at different ages of curing

a b
Fig.4. Microstructure of concrete without granite dust (a) and with granite dust (b) at age of 28 days

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Water absorption [%]
6.00
5.50
5.00
4.50
4.00
3.50
3.00
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2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
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0.50
0.00
42,5-G0 32,5-G0 42,5-G200 32,5-G200 42,5-G300 32,5-G300
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Fig.5. Water absorption of concrete

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 Water penetration [mm]
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
42,5-G0 32,5-G0 42,5-G200 32,5-G200 42,5-G300 32,5-G300

Fig. 6. Water penetration of concrete

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Table 1 Physical and mechanical properties of granite dust

№ Specification Value
1 Specific surface, m2/kg 220 … 250
2 Bulk density, kg/m3 920 … 970
3 Clay content, % 0,2 … 0.5
4 Humidity, % 0,3 … 0,5
5 Water soluble contaminants, % none

Table 2 Mix proportions of concrete

Mix Component consumption, kg/m3

CEM I CEM I Granite Sand Coarse aggregate (granite, SP Water
42,5 R 32,5 R dust fraction)
6-8 mm 8-11 mm 11-16 mm
42,5-G0 350 - 0 730 400 400 400 3,5 180
32,5-G0 - 350 0 730 400 400 400 3,5 180
42,5-G200 350 - 200 530 400 400 400 3,5 180

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32,5-G200 - 350 200 530 400 400 400 3,5 180
42,5-G300 350 - 300 430 400 400 400 3,5 180
32,5-G300 - 350 300 430 400 400 400 3,5 180

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number
Slump
cone,
Averag
e
Compressive strength, MPa
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Table 3 Experimental results of the studied compositions of concrete mixtures

Mix Water
penetration,
Water
absorption
3 7 days 28 90 days 180
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cm density, mm ,%
kg/m3 days days days
42,5-G0 12 2344 28,8 37,4 44,8 53,5 61,2 67 4,92
32,5-G0 11 2325 21,0 28,1 35,4 42,2 50,1 81 4,86
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42,5- 16 2376 34,2 43,7 52,2 59,1 65,1 27 3,45

G200
32,5- 15 2362 26,3 35,0 43,0 51,2 57,8 41 3,90
G200
42,5- 15 2408 37,2 46,3 54,2 60,4 66,2 18 3,02
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G300
32,5- 14,5 2385 27,8 39,8 47,1 52,2 58,4 31 3,30
G300
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