Fabrication of Cement Tiles using Mussel (Perna viridis) Shells as an Aggregate

Abstract

Substandard cement tiles offered in the market compromise the well-being of its consumers and even the community. Mussel shells took part in the increasing amount of solid waste in our environment. This study fabricated an efficient type of cement tile that utilisedpulverised mussel shells as an aggregate proved beneficial not only for consumers but also its manufacturers. The experimental variables comprised of cement tile A, B, and C consisted of 40g, 50g, and 60g of pulverised mussel shells and the controlled variable were the commercially available cement tiles. The set-ups were mixed with Portland cement, sand, and water and allotted with 7days 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 the PercentWater 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 the 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. To summarisethe results, it was shown that cement tile A, which contains 40 g of Mussel shells performs better than the commercial cement tile. This stated the utilisation of pulverised mussel shell; enhanced the percentage of water absorption, strength, and structure of cement tiles. The successful fabrication of an efficient cement tile using pulverised mussel shells as an aggregate guaranteed the safety of everyone and relieved the problem of the increasing amount of solid waste present in our environment.