Reactivity of Recycled Glass Powder in a Cementitious Medium

The reactivity of the recycled glass powder (GP) in a cementitious medium has been studied over time by means of X-ray diffraction and thermal gravimetric analysis. Two different mixtures based on cement/glass powder (0 or 20 wt% GP) and lime/glass powder (70 wt% GP) were considered. Analysis revealed the coexistence of both hydration and pozzolanic reaction during the hardening of the mortars. At young age, the cement hydration would prevail over the pozzolanic one resulting in a decrease of physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the material due to the dilution effect. The pozzolanic reaction that predominates from 91 days, would induce the formation of supplementary C-S-H leading to improve the material properties.