Composition design and characterization of aluminouscement-based concrete with recycled aggregates from waste refractory bricks.

This study examined the effect of elevated temperatures on the properties of refractory concrete made with recycled aggregates from wastes of alumina-silicate bricks and calcium aluminate cement as a binder. Mixture proportions were determined according to the Dreux-Gorisse design method for micro-concretes. The evolution of the concrete rheological behavior from quasi-brittle, between room and 900 °C, to viscous at higher temperatures was shown by compression tests performed from room temperature to 1200 °C on cubic (40 x 40 x 40 mm³) specimens. Physical characteristics and compressive strength of hardened samples are also investigated at the room temperature after being fired at various temperatures. Investigated physical properties included bulk density and porosity. The results indicate that the density as well as the compressive strength decrease in the temperature range of 25 °C. to 1200 °C. By contrast, porosity is inversely proportional to temperature and density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]