Fabrication of Cement Tiles Using Mussel (Pernaviridis) Shell as an Aggregate

Authors

  • Angelo.T. Gerola

Keywords:

Cement Tiles, Mussels Shells, Impact Strength, Compressive Strength, Percent Water Absorption

Abstract

In the past few years, different problems on different variations of cement tiles were discovered. One such visible problem in cement and concrete tile production is the chipping around the edges, a manifestation of weak mixture or poor quality control. Substandard cement tiles offered in the market compromise the well-being of the consumers and even the community. The main problem is the fabrication and availability of substandard tiles commercially, and how these attract consumers due to cheaper price. The fabrication of substandard tiles will endanger the lives of the consumers instead of providing security, like what these are supposed to do. Mussel shells took part in the increasing amount of solid waste in the environment. Mussel shells are built out of calcium carbonate. The outer layer or periostracum is made of mostly protein, basically an organic skin over the top of the shell. But somehow, mussel shells are being wasted because these have the least purpose after the flesh has been eaten. Discarded shells are usually used for decorative purposes. Pulverized mussel shells were used as an aggregate for theirhigh amount of Calcium Carbonate, a hard substance recommended as additive to theconcrete structures to ensure strength.This study fabricated an efficient type of cement tile that utilized pulverized mussel shells as an aggregate proved beneficial not only for consumers, but also manufacturers. The experimental variables comprised of cement tilesA, B, and C with 40g, 50g, and 60g of pulverized mussel shells and the controlled variableswere the commercially-available cement tiles. The set-ups were mixed with Portland cement, sand, and water and allotted with 7 days of curing time. Percent water absorption, impact strength, and compressive strength tests were the assessments conducted upon the fabricated and commercially-available cement tiles. In Percent Water Absorption test, the fabricated tiles were more efficient than the commercial set-up particularly tile A having 1.53%. In Impact Strength Test, both tiles A and B have the same aptitude having 43.33 and 45.00 as mean value respectively as those commercially-available ones. In Compressive Strength Test, only tile A having 31.43 as mean value was as efficient as the commercial tile. Microscopic Structure Test was also conducted using a microscope (with a magnification of 10x) which served as a qualitative description of the cement tiles. One tail T test and One-way ANOVA Test were the statistical tools used in the study. Based on the results gathered by the researchers from the three set-ups (40g, 50g, and 60g) of fabricated cement tiles upon conducting the three tests, the fabricated cement tiles were better in terms of their Percent Water Absorption while the best of the three set-ups was set-up number one which contained40 grams of mussel shells having only 1.53% as its percentage because the lesser its percentage of water absorption, the better it is when it comes to cement tiles standard characteristics. It was shown in the One-tail T test that the entire amount was significantly effective as an aggregate for fabricating cement tiles in terms of Impact Strength Test. On the other hand, it was shown in the One-way Analysis of Variance that only the amount with the lowest mussel shells is the optimum amount in contrast with the other two because more mussel shells took up space for cement which served as the binder for the whole cement tiles that make them compact and strong. To summarize the results, cement tile A, which contained40 g of Mussel shells performed better than the commercial cement tile. This states the utilization of pulverized mussel shell; enhanced the percentage of water absorption, strength, and structure of cement tiles. The successful fabrication of an efficient cement tile using pulverized mussel shells as an aggregate guaranteed the safety of everyone and relieved the problem in the increasing amount of solid waste present in the environment.

Published

2018-09-18