MIIX Virtua

The global demand for granite has led to an increasing relevance of granite waste, with its generation rising in tandem with demand. This waste, comprising large pieces, small fragments, dust, and debris, poses challenges in management and occupies valuable landfill space. Moreover, mishandling granite waste can present hazards. To address these issues, a study was conducted to develop a novel composite. The composite incorporates micro granite as filler and basalt fiber as the matrix, utilizing a fabrication process involving hand layup and a vacuum silicon mould. Analysis testing revealed an enhancement in tensile, flexural, compression, and impact strength as the weight percentage of micro granite increased. The optimal weight percentage was 3wt%, observed consistently in all mechanical tests, whereas exceeding 5wt% resulted in decreased mechanical properties and agglomeration, as evidenced by SEM analysis. Additionally, replacing glass with basalt yielded significant improvements, including a 264% increase in tensile strength, a 65% boost in flexural strength, a 43% rise in compression strength, and a remarkable 272% augmentation in impact strength. The use of micro granite in this application contributes to waste reduction in granite industries and promotes sustainable resource utilization.