Title: The potential uses of red mud in building industries: mechanical properties and durability of red mud-based cement mortars in different curing conditions

Authors: Zahra Jamshidzadeh; Hamid Saghahazrati; Mohammad Amin Ghafouri

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran ' Politecnico di Milano, Lecco Campus, Via Gaetano Previati, 1/c, 23900 Lecco LC, Italy

Abstract: Red mud (RM) is a hazardous waste and its disposal causes environmental challenges for soil, air, and groundwater. This research deals with the impacts of using RM on the compressive strength and durability of cement mortars subjected to a sulphuric acid solution. Nine mortar mixes having RM in the range of 0 to 20% by weight of cement were tested. Unheated RM and heated RM were tested for compressive strength, and water absorption at different curing ages. The weight loss was measured after 28 and 60 days of exposure in a sulphuric acid solution. Results indicated that samples with 5% RM had relatively high strength compared to control samples. The heated RM exhibited better results compared to unheated RM due to the loss of organic impurities, the release of absorbed water, and a part of chemically bound water from heated RM. Results revealed that RM reuse improves cement mortar durability.

Keywords: red mud; RM; hazardous waste; cement mortar; compressive strength; water absorption; weight loss.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2025.148036

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2025 Vol.38 No.1, pp.39 - 54

Received: 27 Jul 2020
Accepted: 06 Aug 2021
Published online: 15 Aug 2025 *

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