Abstract
Recycled concrete aggregates generally have inferior properties than natural aggregates, which means that their recycling possibilities are more limited. However, several studies have demonstrated the use potential of recycled concrete aggregates in the manufacture of concrete by determining their mechanical and microstructural properties, and improving the form of aggregate mixture. This study analyses the feasibility of using nanoindentation to evaluate the interface that is formed between the paste and the recycled aggregate in concretes with this type of aggregate. A new mortar layer was produced using different mix compositions. The admixture using RCA in dry state was used to improve the transition zone due to the absorption of excess water from the cement paste and the particle binders by the empty pores of the recycled aggregate. The reference samples were compared with samples where basalt fillers and rice husk ash had been added. The nanoindentation technique showed that the use of RCA in dry state generates high quality transition zones and that the addition of rice husk ash increases the hardness of the interface.
Keywords:
Concrete mortar; Interface; Nanoindentation
