Sustainable Cement Paste Incorporating Andesite Waste Powder: Mechanical Performance and Feasibility for Ornamental Elements

Utilising industrial waste as a partial solution for Portland cement has become more common as the need for environmentally friendly building materials grows. The potential of using andesite waste powder (AWP), a byproduct of the stone-processing industry, as a cementitious material for ornamental cement-based products is examined in this study. The flowability, dry unit weight, and compression strength tests were done on cement paste samples with 0%, 50%, and 75% AWP replacement levels at water-to-binder ratios of 0.30, 0.35, and 0.40. As the AWP content increased, the workability and compressive strength decreased. This is because AWP has a lower hydraulic response and higher water demand. After 28 days, the mixture with 50% AWP and a water-to-binder ratio of 0.30 had the best performance, with a compression strength of 22.56 MPa and a dry unit weight of 1738.28 kg/m³. The economic analysis demonstrated that the strength-to-cost ratio of AWP-based paste was more favourable than that of conventional ornamental materials. This research demonstrates the potential of AWP as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative material for ornamental applications.