Abstract
Industrial waste disposal is an increasing problem in recent years. It is, therefore, becoming increasingly important for technology and engineering design to be utilized effectively for industrial waste disposal. Waste plasterboard is generated in vast quantities as a by product of demolition of buildings and houses. If waste plasterboard can be effectively utilized as a construction material, the problem of waste plasterboard disposal and shortage of natural resources for construction may be solved. It is also environmentally friendly, due to its neutral nature. This paper describes the unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized soils mixed with bassanite produced from waste plasterboard to promote waste plasterboard recycling. Bassanite is produced by heating gypsum obtained from waste plasterboard, under conditions of 130°C or more. The strengths of samples were determined by unconfined compression tests after 28 days curing immediately after molding. The effects of bassanite contents on stress-strain behavior of cement-stabilized soils are quantified. The unconfined compressive strength increases with increase in bassanite contents. This is due to concomitant decrease in the water content. These properties make bassanite produced from waste plasterboard useful as a construction material. The potential use of waste plasterboard can be refined with further research.
