TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING MORTAR WITH PARTIAL REPLACEMENTE OF PORTLAND CEMENT BY GROUND GRANITE CRUSHED STONE POWDER FROM THE AMAZON

Abstract

The construction industry, although essential for socioeconomic development, stands out as one of the largest consumers of natural resources and emitters of greenhouse gases, mainly due to the production of Portland cement. In this context, the incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) derived from industrial and mineral waste has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce environmental impacts and promote greater sustainability in the sector. This study investigates the technical feasibility of producing mortars with partial replacement of Portland cement by ground granite aggregate powder (GGAP), a residue generated from granite processing in the municipality of Tracuateua, Pará, Brazil. The material was mechanically processed by grinding in a ball mill for 45 minutes and subsequently sieved through a No. 200 sieve (75 µm). The quantitative experimental program was carried out in laboratories at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and at the specialized laboratory Totalmix Technological Control in Concrete and Mortar. Mortar mixtures were produced with partial replacement of Portland cement at levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, in addition to a reference mixture without replacement. Comparative mixtures containing silica fume and metakaolin were also prepared. The mortars were evaluated through compressive strength tests, determination of potential tensile bond strength, and microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that replacement levels of up to 10% of GGAP maintain satisfactory mechanical and bond strength performance. Therefore, GGAP demonstrated potential for application in mortars, contributing to the reuse of mineral waste and to the reduction of Portland cement consumption in civil construction.