Characterization of marble powder for its use in mortar and concrete

A powder obtained as a by-product of marble sawing and shaping was characterized from a chemical and physical point of view in order to use it as mineral addition for mortars and concretes, especially for self-compacting concrete. This marble powder showed a very high Blaine fineness value of about 1500 m2/kg, with 90% of particles finer than 50 micron and 50% under 7 micron. For rheological studies, several cement pastes were prepared using marble powder, with and without the addition of an acrylic-based superplasticizer. Water to cementitious materials ratio was also varied. In order to evaluate the effects of the marble powder on mechanical behaviour, many different mortar mixtures were tested, all prepared with sand to cement ratio of 3:1 at about the same workability. Mixtures were evaluated based upon cement or sand substitution by the marble powder. Results obtained show that 10% substitution of sand by the marble powder provided maximum compressive strength at about the same workability.