Utilization of Spent Coffee Grounds, Waste Glass, and Clay as Raw Materials for Flooring Tiles

Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering Education, University of Mindanao, Davao City 8000, Philippines

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Abstract

The imperative confronting the national construction industry lies in the innovation of materials, harmonizing the delicate balance between resource utilization, energy efficiency, and economic accessibility. This study aimed to utilize Spent Coffee Grounds, Waste Glass, and Clay as modified unglazed ceramic tiles. The study focused on determining each raw material's physical and chemical characteristics by testing it using grain size analysis for physical traits and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) for chemical characteristics. The study tested the optimum mixture of Spent Coffee Grounds, Waste Glass, and Clay using the ASTM standard for flexural testing, ASTM C1505. Upon comparison, the control group, comprised of 50% clay, 25% feldspar, and 25% sand, exhibited an average breaking strength of 704.53 N and a modulus of rupture of 10.568 MPa, derived from five samples. Remarkably, T3, comprised of 15% Spent Coffee Grounds, 25% Waste Glass, and 60% clay, showcased superior performance, yielding a breaking strength of 1077.3 N and a modulus of rupture of 16.16 MPa. This study focused only on testing and identifying the physical and mechanical properties of Spent Coffee Grounds, Waste Glass, and Clay. The experimental data strongly suggests that mixtures incorporating Spent Coffee Grounds and Waste Glass exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to the control group.