Production and characterization of artificial stone for coating with limestone waste laminated in polymeric matrix

Abstract Exploiting laminated limestone from Cariri Ceará for ornamental and coating purposes has generated about 2.9 million tons of waste, which is discarded of improperly, making it important to search for alternatives to this material. Thus, this work aims to develop artificial stone for wall and floor coating, using laminated limestone waste (Cariri Stone) and a polyester resin. Initially, Cariri stone waste was characterised, and then artificial stone was made with 25% resin and 75% waste, by volume. Water absorption tests and resistance to compression, flexion, abrasion and hard body impact were performed on the composites produced. The results showed that the artificial stone presented water absorption about 5 times lower and abrasion resistance 448% higher than the natural stone, compressive and flexural strength 38.8% and 72.9% lower than the natural stone, respectively, and energy values equivalent to the commercial natural stone in the hard body impact test. It can be observed that the composite produced has a technical potential for use as a coating in civil construction, after adjusting the production process of the artificial stone.

摘要
巴西塞阿拉州卡里里地区的叠层石灰岩（laminated limestone）用于装饰与饰面用途时，会产生约290万吨废弃物，且该类废弃物未得到妥善处置，因此亟需开发该材料的替代方案。为此，本研究旨在利用叠层石灰岩废弃物（卡里里石材，Cariri Stone）与聚酯树脂（polyester resin），制备用于墙面与地面饰面的人造石材。
首先对卡里里石材废弃物进行性能表征，随后按体积比配制25%的树脂与75%的废弃物，制备得到人造石材试样。对所制备的复合材料开展了吸水率测试，以及抗压、抗弯、耐磨与硬体冲击抗性测试。
测试结果显示，所制备的人造石材吸水率较天然石材低约5倍，耐磨性能较天然石材提升448%，抗压强度与抗弯强度分别较天然石材低38.8%与72.9%，而硬体冲击测试中的能量吸收值与商用天然石材相当。
综上可见，经优化人造石材制备工艺后，本研究所制备的复合材料具备用作建筑工程饰面材料的技术潜力。