Properties of cement made by partially replacing cement raw materials with municipal solid waste ashes and calcium carbide waste

Abstract An investigation on using municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MSWI) and calcium carbide waste (CCW) as a part of the cement raw materials was performed. Cement raw meals were replaced by 5% and 10% of MSWI and CCW to study properties of the laboratory produced MSWI and CCW cements. Chemical composition, setting times, compressive strength and expansion in sulfate solution of the pastes and mortars made of MSWI cements and CCW cements were tested and compared with these made of conventional cement. It was found from the study that the chemical compositions of MSWI cements and CCW cements were similar to that of the control cement. However, SiO 2 content of MSWI cements was higher than that of the control cement, whereas CaO content was lower. Setting times of cement pastes were slightly delayed when MSWI or CCW were used to replace a part of raw meal in cement production. The longer setting times of these cement pastes were observed due to the lower C 3 S but higher C 2 S content than those in the control cement. Compressive strength of CCW cement mortars was close to that of the control cement. However, compressive strength of the mortars produced from MSWI cements was smaller than that of the control cement mortar, especially when the percentage of MSWI in the raw meal was increased. When compared to the control cement, the performance of MSWI cement and CCW cement in sodium sulfate solution was superior due to the lower C 3 S and C 3 A.