The transformation of waste Bakelite to replace natural fine aggregate in cement mortar

Bakelite material has been utilized extensively in the automotive and consumer goods sectors in Thailand, leading to significant waste generation. This waste is regulated against direct landfilling and open burning due to environmental concerns, necessitating effective management strategies. While mechanical size reduction using milling machines can alleviate waste storage issues, the effective utilization of post-milling Bakelite waste in construction materials is under-researched. This study aims to explore the use of waste Bakelite aggregate milling machines for reducing Bakelite waste size and substituting it for natural sand in cement mortar. A series of cement mortar samples were prepared with varying proportions of waste Bakelite fine aggregate (WBFA) – 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% by volume. The compressive strength of these samples was evaluated according to ASTM standards. Results indicated that while the strength of the waste Bakelite mortar (WBM) at 28 days did not exceed 11.03% or 23.08% with certain WBFA contents, the tested mixtures met the specified mortar standards. This research highlights the potential of WBFA in developing non-structural mortar products, promoting sustainable practices in waste materials management.