Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties

The construction industry is recognized for its high consumption of natural resources, resulting in significant environmental impacts. Given this reality, it is essential to seek new methods and solutions that minimize the impact of this activity on the environment. An innovative approach consists o...

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Main Authors: Richard Thomas Lermen, Gabriela de Oliveira Orlando, Rodrigo de Almeida Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Mining
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6489/3/4/38
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author Richard Thomas Lermen
Gabriela de Oliveira Orlando
Rodrigo de Almeida Silva
author_facet Richard Thomas Lermen
Gabriela de Oliveira Orlando
Rodrigo de Almeida Silva
author_sort Richard Thomas Lermen
collection DOAJ
description The construction industry is recognized for its high consumption of natural resources, resulting in significant environmental impacts. Given this reality, it is essential to seek new methods and solutions that minimize the impact of this activity on the environment. An innovative approach consists of using pigments derived from acid mine drainage (AMD) as a sustainable alternative in the production of mortar for decorative façade cladding. In this context, the main objective of this paper was to evaluate the physical/mechanical properties of decorative mortars developed by partially replacing natural sand with pigment from acid mine drainage. Initially, the pigment (yellow) was produced, characterized, and compared with a commercial pigment. Sequentially, decorative mortars were developed with different pigment concentrations (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%). The mortars were subjected to compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, shrinkage, loss of mass, and colorimetry tests. The results showed that compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, weight loss, and dimensional variation were significantly affected by the partial addition of pigment to replace natural aggregate. In other words, there was a decrease in strength and an increase in mass loss and expansion of the mortars. However, the main factor influencing these variables was the greater amount of water added in the higher substitution cases. The addition of water was necessary to keep the consistency constant. A possible solution to maintain the same amount of water and avoid negative effects on the mortar properties would be to use additives in the mortar formulation in future work. Therefore, this research contributes to the search for more sustainable solutions in civil construction, exploring the use of pigments from AMD as a viable alternative to reduce the environmental impacts associated with this industry.
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spelling doaj.art-b56e5cb9d7fa4610ba3dbb2a81690aa02023-12-22T14:26:54ZengMDPI AGMining2673-64892023-11-013469671110.3390/mining3040038Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical PropertiesRichard Thomas Lermen0Gabriela de Oliveira Orlando1Rodrigo de Almeida Silva2Postgraduation Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Education, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, BrazilPostgraduation Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Education, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, BrazilPostgraduation Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Education, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, BrazilThe construction industry is recognized for its high consumption of natural resources, resulting in significant environmental impacts. Given this reality, it is essential to seek new methods and solutions that minimize the impact of this activity on the environment. An innovative approach consists of using pigments derived from acid mine drainage (AMD) as a sustainable alternative in the production of mortar for decorative façade cladding. In this context, the main objective of this paper was to evaluate the physical/mechanical properties of decorative mortars developed by partially replacing natural sand with pigment from acid mine drainage. Initially, the pigment (yellow) was produced, characterized, and compared with a commercial pigment. Sequentially, decorative mortars were developed with different pigment concentrations (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%). The mortars were subjected to compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, shrinkage, loss of mass, and colorimetry tests. The results showed that compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, weight loss, and dimensional variation were significantly affected by the partial addition of pigment to replace natural aggregate. In other words, there was a decrease in strength and an increase in mass loss and expansion of the mortars. However, the main factor influencing these variables was the greater amount of water added in the higher substitution cases. The addition of water was necessary to keep the consistency constant. A possible solution to maintain the same amount of water and avoid negative effects on the mortar properties would be to use additives in the mortar formulation in future work. Therefore, this research contributes to the search for more sustainable solutions in civil construction, exploring the use of pigments from AMD as a viable alternative to reduce the environmental impacts associated with this industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6489/3/4/38decorative coating mortariron oxide pigmentacid mine drainage
spellingShingle Richard Thomas Lermen
Gabriela de Oliveira Orlando
Rodrigo de Almeida Silva
Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties
Mining
decorative coating mortar
iron oxide pigment
acid mine drainage
title Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties
title_full Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties
title_fullStr Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties
title_full_unstemmed Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties
title_short Development of Decorative Mortars with Pigments from Acid Mine Drainage: Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties
title_sort development of decorative mortars with pigments from acid mine drainage analysis of physical and mechanical properties
topic decorative coating mortar
iron oxide pigment
acid mine drainage
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6489/3/4/38
work_keys_str_mv AT richardthomaslermen developmentofdecorativemortarswithpigmentsfromacidminedrainageanalysisofphysicalandmechanicalproperties
AT gabrieladeoliveiraorlando developmentofdecorativemortarswithpigmentsfromacidminedrainageanalysisofphysicalandmechanicalproperties
AT rodrigodealmeidasilva developmentofdecorativemortarswithpigmentsfromacidminedrainageanalysisofphysicalandmechanicalproperties