Suitability of ceramic industrial waste recycling by alkaline activation for use as construction and restoration materials

Ceramic is one of the prominent sources of waste in Europe. Its aluminosilicate composition, together with the relatively high amount of amorphous phase, makes it suitable as a potential precursor for alkali activated products. The technical characteristics of these kinds of materials, as well as the aesthetic appearance, determine a good applicability in the field of construction and for restoration purposes. This research aimed to investigate the suitability of ceramic industrial tiles waste through the alkaline activation process for the production of novel and eco-friendly materials. The applicative goal was the implementation of binder formulations to be used for the production of eco-sustainable bricks, tiles, mortars and decorative elements. The results showed that pure ceramic based geopolymers and binary mixtures obtained by adding few percentages of metakaolin can be produced at room temperature by only using sodium hydroxide and waterglass, reaching efficient technical characteristics for their employment in restoration. This work represents a starting point for future development of ceramic based geopolymeric products to be employed in construction and restoration field.