Files
Abstract
This critical literature review and experimental testing procedure investigate the feasibility of amethyst quartz and glitter as partial replacements for coarse and fine aggregates in architectural concrete. The goal of this experiment is to enhance concrete’s aesthetic properties without sacrificing a substantial amount of structural strength. A critical literature review about shredded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste fine aggregate and quartzite coarse aggregate substitution in concrete yielded promising results about the structural properties of architectural concrete made with these alternative aggregates. To address both structural and aesthetic properties, a laboratory procedure was developed to test the compressive strength and two types of finishes on each mix batch. The results indicated that glitter containing metals in its coating are not viable as fine aggregate substitutions, due to issues with bonding and chemical reactions that cause expansion and discoloration. These samples performed poorly in both aesthetic and structural tests. However, when the possibility of metal contamination was eliminated, the samples performed better under compressive stresses. Finally, amethyst quartz has the potential to be a viable alternative coarse aggregate for both structural and aesthetic enhancement. However, in this experiment, the polished coating on the amethyst gemstones resulted in poor bonding. Further research is necessary to completely evaluate the structural and aesthetic capabilities of metal-free glitter fine aggregate replacement and rough, raw-cut amethyst quartz as a coarse aggregate alternative.