Philippine Journal of Science
153 (4): 1329-1343, August 2024
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 16 Aug 2023
Fabrication of a Concrete Roof Tile by Geopolymerization of Red Clay with Container Glass Wastes
Keith T. Bulaybulay1, Jessel Grace L. Orpeza2, and Ruben L. Menchavez3*
1Technical Development, TECDIA Cebu Inc., Mactan Export Processing Zone, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6016 Philippines 2Ceramic Wafer Process, TECDIA Cebu Inc., Mactan Export Processing Zone, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, 6016 Philippines 3Department of Materials and Resources Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering, Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology, Tibanga, Iligan City, 9200 Philippines
*Corresponding author: ruben.menchavez@g.msuiit.edu.ph
Bulaybulay K et al. 2024. Fabrication of a Concrete Roof Tile by Geopolymerization of Red Clay with Container Glass Wastes. Philipp J Sci 153(4): 1329–1343. https://doi.org/10.56899/153.04.07
ABSTRACT
We report the production of concrete roof tiles using a red clay-based geopolymer binder with container glass waste and river sand as a concrete filler. Clear and colored container glass wastes were separately ground to powder and blended with low-grade red clay to achieve a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of approximately 7.0. The powder blends were converted to geopastes with a solid-to-alkali solution ratio of approximately 0.8 using a 12-molar alkali activator solution containing a mixture of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. Rheological analysis showed that the geopaste binders with transparent and colored glass powders exhibited high shear thinning behavior. A higher viscosity was observed for the geopaste with colored glass powder due to the presence of colorants. Fine and coarse particles of river sand were prepared and mixed with different ratios of geopaste binder to river sand of 1:2.0, 1:2.5, and 1:3.0, respectively. All geopaste and river sand formulations were poured into acetate molds and heated in a metal chamber at 80 °C for 24 h, then aged at room temperature for 14 d. The highest flexural strength of 2.33 MPa was obtained from the formulation with a 1:2 ratio of geopaste with transparent glass powder and fine sand. The measured strength corresponded to an apparent porosity of 6.30% and a water absorption of 4.50%. The bulk density was approximately 1.16 g/cm³, which is classified as a lightweight material. A prototype geopolymer concrete roof tile was successfully produced with a sorption coefficient of approximately 0.170 mm/min1/2. This measured sorption coefficient and the physical properties indicate that the produced roof tile is a potential building material. Keywords: alkali activator, container glass, geopolymer, red clay, roof tile, waste