Assessment of possibility of metal waterjet cutting wastes use in building materials production

Abstract

Abstract. The paper is aimed at studying the composition and properties of the wastes generated during metal waterjet cutting and assessing the possibility of their use in building materials production. The essence of waterjet cutting process, waste generation mechanism, waste accumulation volumes at enterprises are described. The composition and properties of the used abradant -garnet sand is given and the features of its destruction during cutting are revealed. Waterjet cutting wastes are comprehensively studies: average and bulk density, granulometric composition, chemical composition are determined, various fractions are studied with an electronic microscope. It is revealed that during cutting abradant particles are destroyed, a large amount of dust fraction emerges with the particles of cut metal mixed into it. The metal waterjet cutting wastes are found to be very small, practically monofractive, heavy sands with a high content of dust fraction, which chemical composition is dominated by oxides of iron, silicon and aluminum. This characteristic of the wastes has allowed us to outline possible ways of how to use them: in ceramic items production as thinning agents and fluxing agents, in Portland cement production as a correcting iron-containing agent, as a mortar filler, including special mortars, as a building materials volumetric staining pigment, etc.

Effects of waterjet cutting waste addition on properties of building ceramics

“…The study of the dry part of the waste (homogenized mean sample) has produced the following results: true density -3.92 g/cm 3 , bulk density -2.157 g/cm 3 . The granulometric composition determined on a standard set of sand screens is mainly represented by two fractions: fine (0.16÷0.315 mm -70.5%) and finest (less than 0.16 mm -27.1%) [1,2]. We assumed that the finest waste fraction includes the particles of the cut metal, and this assumption was confirmed by the results of the study performed on a FEIQUANTA 200 scanning electron microscope [1,4].…”

“…The largest value of the density of the smallest fraction also indirectly confirms the presence of metal. The above characteristics of waterjet cutting waste allowed us to outline possible ways of their use [1,2], one of which is the production of building ceramics. In order to study behavior of the waste (mainly the metal component) during calcinating in the composition of the ceramic mass, specimen cubes with an edge of 5 cm were made.…”

“…On large particles of abrasive, there is adherence of the smallest particles, which is clearly seen in Figure 2. With a large increase in the ceramic body with waste content, three types of particles are clearly distinguished: large (in the picture on the right), finest adhered to them represented mainly by particles of the cut metal [1,2], and fine of different shapes and structures (layered, acute, rounded), but approximately the same in size.…”

“…We have considered the features of waterjet metal cutting, the composition and properties of the garnet abrasive and wastes [1,2]. A comprehensive study of the composition and properties of the waste has showed that they are very fine heavy sands with a high content of pulverized fraction, the chemical composition of which is dominated by oxides of iron, silicon and aluminum.…”