Utilization of Used Foundry Sand in the Development of Sustainable Concrete Mortars

Cement-based composites have been explored for several modifications by the addition of the waste materials or as the replacement of the conventional constituents. All three major ingredients namely cement, sand and aggregates have been partially or fully replaced with different natural and manmade waste materials by many researchers. The used foundry sand however, is one of the industry-based waste materials largely generated in a large quantity and remains unutilized, has not extensively explored for its possible addition in cement-based concrete mixes. This paper deals with the feasibility study and results obtained from the experimental explorations on the concrete mortars prepared by replacing the conventional river sand with used foundry sand in varying proportions from 0% to 100
^%
replacement ratio. The study was carried out for MM1.5 grade of mortars as per the guidelines of IS: 2250–1981 consisting cement as the binder agent. The foundry sand was assessed in accordance to the IS: 2116–1980 code guidelines. The cement mortars were prepared with 0% to 100% used foundry sand fractions replacing the natural sand. All the necessary tests were performed on the mortar mixtures as per the code guidelines. The test results showed that the strength and workability properties did not changed up to 60% replacement of the conventional sand by used foundry sand. However, the mortar strength reduced gradually on the addition of the used foundry sand beyond 70% replacement scenario. The optimum replacement dosage of the used foundry sand was found to be 60%. The study provided the way for using the used foundry sand in construction applications for the mortar mixtures to develop the sustainable construction material.