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Construction and Building Materials xxx (2010) xxxxxx

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Construction and Building Materials

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Self-levelling cement mortar containing grounded slate from quarrying waste

G. Barluenga a,*, F. Hernndez-Olivares b
Departamento de Arquitectura, Escuela Tcnica Superior de Arquitectura y Geodesia, Universidad de Alcal, C. Santa rsula, 8, Alcal de Henares, 28801 Madrid, Spain Departamento de Construccin y Tecnologa Arquitectnicas, Escuela Tcnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad Politcnica de Madrid, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 4, 28040 Madrid, Spain
b a

a r t i c l e

i n f o

a b s t r a c t
The aim of this research is to obtain a low density self-levelling cement mortar containing grounded slate from quarrying waste that could be used as a substrate levelling layer for ooring purposes. An experimental research was carried out on the design and development of a self-levelling cement mortar substituting up to 75% of the cement by grounded slate from quarrying wastes. In a rst stage, the formation of stable reactive binding products of slatecement pastes was conrmed, using Vicat needle test and Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis (SEM/EDAX). In addition, mortar mixtures with different amounts of grounded slate have been studied. Fresh state consistency, shrinkage measurements in wet and dry conditions and physical and mechanical properties in the hardened state of these mortars have been assessed. Finally, mortar shrinkage was controlled according to the selected application, including admixtures and glass bers in the mortar composition, to achieve the owability and strength required, without segregation. Grounded slate acts as binder, jointly with the cement, conrming that the inclusion of the slate wastes implies a waste valorisation and not a waste disposal. The use of admixtures and short bers allows to develop a self-levelling mortar. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Article history: Received 1 August 2009 Received in revised form 15 February 2010 Accepted 18 February 2010 Available online xxxx Keywords: Self-levelling mortar Slate Flowability Shrinkage Waste management

1. Introduction Nowadays, the use of recycled compounds in building materials is of current interest as one of the researching lines proposed to integrate sustainability criteria in construction. Recycled compounds that can be included in building materials come mainly from building demolition, mineral wastes, urban wastes and industrial wastes and by-products [1]. Slate is a natural metamorphic stone mainly used in buildings for roong or ooring purposes. Slate has a mineralogical composition formed by quartz, phyllosilicates like chlorite and muscovite, illite, and other minor components [2]. Like any natural material, slate deposits are heterogeneous and not all the raw material can be manufactured, due to the different properties that present [3]. Low quality deposits, particularly those of such low strength stone as slate, are usually dismissed. Besides, large quantities of waste are produced either in the extraction or in the processing plants where slate blocks are transformed into usable thin sheets [1]. The amount of residuals also increases due to the cutting and manufacturing processes and, indeed, this has become an important problem for slate producers [4,5].

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 91 883 92 39; fax: +34 91 883 92 76. E-mail address: gonzalo.barluenga@uah.es (G. Barluenga). 0950-0618/$ - see front matter 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.02.033

The main characteristics of this residual are: irregular particle shape and size, low density, low strength, brittleness and high water absorption. There are several application proposals for using these residuals in ceramics, activating slate chemical activity through a thermal treatment [610]. However, in mortar and concrete, slate residuals are used as a lightweight aggregate, expanded through a thermal process. The resulting product becomes quite expensive, compared to other natural and articial lightweight aggregates. Other new research line leads to the use of thermal expanded slate as a pozzolanic additive, arguing that natural slate waste does not have pozzolanic activity [11]. Nevertheless, slatealkali reactivity has been reported [12], determining that it is controlled by crystallinity and content of quartz. This apparent contradiction can be related to divergences of slate properties, when comparing different slate deposits. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to include grounded slate waste (250 lm of maximum size) in a self-levelling cement mortar to be used as a substrate layer for ooring purposes. The grounded slate acts as part of the binder, substituting up to 75% of the cement. In order to obtain an integrated and practical solution, the general approach on the inclusion of recycled products in cement based building materials should be structured in several stages [1315].

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2 G. Barluenga, F. Hernndez-Olivares / Construction and Building Materials xxx (2010) xxxxxx Table 2 EDAX quantication of sample contents (% weight). Element Na Mg Al Si S K Ca Ti Fe Total Slate 0.71 1.38 25.20 46.83 0.00 14.67 2.16 0.68 8.36 100.00 Hydrated cement 0.50 1.62 2.36 12.50 2.61 2.21 69.67 0.00 3.02 100 Slatecement interphase 0.01 1.36 12.14 33.38 1.64 2.84 30.94 0.68 17.01 100

Firstly, the waste must be characterized: its physical and chemical properties and its shape, size and homogeneity have to be identied. Its compatibility and reactive ability when mixed with cement must also be studied. The possible products to be included must be low cost, easily available and their recycling has to be a high added value. At the same time, neither the products nor the processes involved can be toxic or hazardous, so as to avoid health risks. Regarding the properties observed one or more possible uses of the mortar or concrete containing this waste can be proposed. Secondly, the physical and mechanical properties of the cement based compound needed for the selected use, considering the fresh and the hardened state, have to be dened. Once the technological parameters have been dened, the experimental study can be designed. The aim of the experimental design is to relate the dosage variables and the properties to be measured in the fresh and the hardened state of the cement based composite. All the manufacturing and setting parameters of the nal material taking into account the use or uses dened previously must be included in this experimental stage, in order to get as close as possible to the real application of the nal product. If one or more values obtained do not full the required properties, a study on the selected variables can be performed, in order to accomplish the target requirements. Usually, this stage involves several consecutive steps: varying some proportions, casting or curing parameters, and maintaining the other values constant. Afterwards, a study of long term behaviour can be performed. According to this general experimental approach, the present research was designed in order to: (a) prove the formation of stable reactive binding products between slate and cement, (b) perform a physical and mechanical characterization of mortars and (c) control the mortar shrinkage to accomplish the performance of a self-levelling mortar that can be used as a substrate layer for ooring purposes.

Sieve (mm)
0 10 20 4 2 1 0.5 0.25 0.125 0.063

% Accumulated

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Slate Milled Slate

Fig. 1. Grading curves of natural wasted slate and grounded slate.

2. Materials and testing Materials used for the different cementslate pastes were:  Cement type CEM I 42.5 R manufactured by Asland, SA, with a net density of 3.03 g/cm3. The anhydrous cement nominal composition is shown in Table 1 and the composition of a hydrated cement paste obtained in an EDAX analysis is presented in Table 2.  Slate from Bernardos, Segovia (Spain), dismissed in the manufacturing process at the quarry and milled in the laboratory in particles smaller 250 lm (net density of 2.70 g/cm3). Fig. 1 shows the grading curve of grounded slate. The nominal chemical slate composition is detailed in Table 1 and the slate composition obtained in an EDAX analysis is presented in Table 2. A micrography of slate particles can be observed in Fig. 2. A cement paste (sample A) was manufactured in order to serve as a reference for the cementslate pastes; sample B, 75% of grounded slate; sample C, 80% of grounded slate and sample D with 85% of grounded slate as binder material. Fig. 2. SEM micrograph of grounded-slate sample (800). Table 1 Nominal chemical compositions of sample components (in % of weight). Chemical analyses (%) SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 FeO CaO MgO SO3 Na2O K2O H2O Other Slate 55.3 23 4 4.4 0.5 2.5 1.3 3.2 4.5 1.3 CEM I 42.5 R 19.45 5.33 3.24 63.86 1.97 3.20 0.15 0.85 1.85 Cementslate mortars were produced adding standard siliceous rolled sand with a maximum size of 4 mm (standard UNE-EN 196-1 [16]) and, in some specimens, sand was partially substituted by slate particles under 4 mm, with a grading curve as shown in Fig. 1. The following minor components were used for improving mortar performance. In every case, powder admixtures were included because the nal product was proposed to be a dry packed mortar:  A water reducing admixture (WRA) (powder presentation) for mortars, MELMENT F10 (anionic type) manufactured by BETTOR-MBT.  A water retention admixture in powder, methylcellulose.  Dispersible powder polyvinyl acetate resin (PVA), VINNAPAS, manufactured by Wacker Chemie Division.  Dispersible glass ber Alkali-Resistant (AR), HD ANTICRACK, with 12 mm in length and 13 lm in diameter, manufactured by Vetrotex-Espaa, SA.

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Glass ber (12 mm)

The compositions of the mortars studied, with mixed siliceous and granular slate sands (sample E) and siliceous sand only (sample F), are also presented in Table 3. Initial and nal setting times of the pastes under study were measured using Vicat needle (standard UNE-EN 196-3 [17]). Paste compositions (named A, B, C, and D) are described in Table 3. The owing table test (standard UNE-EN 10153 [18]) was used to measure pastes and mortar spread diameter. To dene a self-levelling behaviour, a minimum spread diameter of 250300 mm was determined. In the hardened state, standard prismatic specimens were tested under compression and three points bending tests (standard UNE-EN 1015-11 [19]). Standard mortar specimens (40 40 160 mm) were used for shrinkage measurements, after one day of age to allow hardening. The loss of mass was also measured during 28 days, considering room conditions (20 2 C, 60% Relative Humidity) and saturated conditions (20 2 C, 100% Relative Humidity). In order to improve mortar performance, free shrinkage tests were performed on cementslate mortar mixtures. The shrinkage apparatus consisted on a steel tray with internal dimensions of 500 100 50 mm and an electronic linear variable digital transducer (LVDT) connected to a digital register, which records displacement measurements (in mm) every 30 min during the rst 24 h [20]. Although it is not a standard test, it was selected because it records the total shrinkage produced from the beginning, right after mortar is cast in the mould. All the data was taken under room conditions (20 2 C, 60% Relative Humidity).

36.71 (28D) 10.36 (28D) 6.71 (28D) 4.8 (28D) 4.5 (28D) 4.7 (28D) 7.82 9.35 (7D) 12.34 (7D) 2.11 1.82 1.78 1.76 1.84 1.91 1.87 1.94 2.02 0.273 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.51 0.48 0.60 0.40 0.35

Ultrasonic modulus (GPa)

Density (g/cm3)

W/nes (c + grounded slate)

1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5

0.40 0.35 0.43 0.30 0.35 0.45 0.40

1.92 2.01 1.90 1.95 1.72 1.73 1.72

9.15 (7D) 12.5 (7D) 13.1 (7D)

3. Experimental results
Methyl cellulose

3.1. Cementslate pastes chemical activity Several mixtures of cementslate pastes were tested with the Vicat needle test in order to study the initial and nal setting times. Fig. 3 shows that all samples setted. Although, initial setting times were very similar in all cases, an increase on total and nal setting times can be observed, as the amount of grounded slate increased. Considering the quantities of grounded slate used and the differences on setting times observed, the existence of initial and nal setting times in all cases can be considered as an index of the formation of cementslate stable reactive binding products. The samples were submerged in water during 24 h in order to study their volume soundness, and it was observed that the samples kept their stiffness and dimensions. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX), analyses on a hydrated cement sample (sample A), a slate sample and a cementslate sample (sample B, 25% of cement and 75% of grounded slate) were performed. Fig. 4 shows a SEM micrograph of the grounded slatecement sample. Slate has a laminated microstructure, with irregular shaped particles and the hydrated cement is composed by large crystals of calcium hydroxide and CSH laminated structures. It can also be observed how hydrated cement products have crystallized on slate particles. In addition, three EDAX spectra were obtained, as shown in Fig. 5. EDAX quantications are presented in Table 1.
1.2 2.4 1.5 200 200 213.3 200 200 200 300 240 210 280 180 210 270 240 4.2 (3.5%) 6 (5%) 8 (5%) 6 (5%) 6 (5%) 6 (5%) 7.5 (5%) 1.5 260 520 100 100 100 260 100 100 100 136.5 210 209.5 208 806 754 300 240 210 2.4 (2%) 4.8 (4%) 5.7 (4.75%)

Table 3 Compositions of the grounded slate modied cement pastes and mortars under study (components in g).

Grounded slate (<0.250 mm)

Sand (4 mm)

Slate (4 mm)

Water

WRA

PVA resin

Final setting time

Setting Time

450 400
375 400 425 1248 1248 480 480 480 480 480 480 480 480 480 450

350

Cement I 42.5 R

Time (min)

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 0 20 40 60

y = -2,0103x + 410,41 R = 0,9899

500 125 100 75 312 312 120 120 120

A B C D E F EM 2.5/2 EM 2/4 EM 1.75/ 4.75 FM 2/3.5 FM 1.75/5 GM 1.75/5 HM 1.5/1/0 HM1.75/1/1 HM2.25/1/2 LM 2/1/1/1

120 120 160 120 120 120 150

Sample

80

100

120

% CEM I 42,5 R
Fig. 3. Final setting times of pastes with different amounts of cement (in %).

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Fig. 4. SEM micrograph of grounded-slate/cement interphase (6400).

Slate is composed by silicon oxides (47%), aluminium (25%) and lower quantities of potassium (15%) and iron (8%). Hydrated cement has calcium oxides as main component (75%), silicon (15%) and lower amounts of aluminium (2.4%), sulphur (2.6%), iron (3%), potassium (2.2%) and magnesium (1.6%). The spectrum of the cementslate interphase shows compounds with a high content of calcium and silicon oxides, coming from hydrated cement and slate, respectively. This analysis conrms the formation of cementslate stable reactive binding products, previously pointed out in the Vicat needle setting tests.

3.2. Recycled slatecement mortar development The aim of the cementslate compound selected is to be used as a self-levelling mortar that can be used as substrate layer for ooring purposes. Therefore, the main properties needed on the nal product are: low density (1.71.8 g/cm3), large ow ability (250 300 mm diameter in the ow table test) without segregation, addition of powder admixtures for a dry packing product, moderate compressive strength (810 MPa at 28 days) and low shrinkage (less than 1.2 mm/m). The experimental sequence was designed to achieve the properties according to the previously stated order. Two different mortar compositions, containing mixed granular slate and siliceous sand (sample E), and are only containing siliceous sand (sample F) were used. These reference batches were modied including a water reduction admixture in different proportions (samples EM and FM). Sample compositions are described in Table 2. Fig. 6 shows the inuence of WRA on ow diameter measured with the ow table test. It can be observed that there is no linear relation between them. Standard prismatic specimens (40 40 160 mm) were performed to measure shrinkage and loss of mass from 1 to 28 days (considering that the specimens setting and initial hardening took the rst 24 h). Fig. 7 presents the results obtained for different mortar compositions under room conditions (20 2 C, 60% Relative Humidity). It can be observed that the greater the mass loss, the greater the shrinkage increase. When regarding shrinkage measured in relation to time, room conditions need also to be considered, as it can be observed in Fig. 8. In saturated conditions (20 2 C, 100% Relative Humidity), mortar samples shrinkage is reduced to autogenous shrinkage, which represents around one-fth of the shrinkage measured at room conditions (20 2 C, 60% Relative Humidity). Autogenous

Fig. 5. EDAX analysis results of: (a) cement CEM I 42.5 R, (b) slate and (c) slate cement interphase samples.

shrinkage is the volume change resulting when there is no moisture transfer to the surrounding environment [21]. Figs. 9 and 10 present the compressive and exural strength respectively of the different proportions of cementslate mortars under study, at several ages. Fig. 11 shows the evolution of compressive and exural strength with age for samples with and without WRA. As can be observed, the WRA used does not signicantly modify the compressive strength evolution, although it slows the exural strength development. Table 2 shows the Ultrasonic Young Modulus, Es (GPa) calculated for the samples under study using Eq. (1), according to [22].

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Diameter of the flow table test (mm)

E 100%

F 100%

EM 2/4

EM 1,75/4,75

FM 2/3,5

FM 1,75/5

GM 1,75/5

LM 2/1/1/1

300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 0 1 2 3 4 5
W/c = 2.5 W/c = 2 W/c = 1.75

Compressive strength (N/mm2)

10.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

% WRA Melment
Fig. 6. Flow diameter of pastes type EM, with different w/c ratios and several amounts of water reduction admixture (MELMENT F10) measured with the ow table test (standard UNE-EN 10153).

Time (days)
Fig. 9. Compressive strength of several compositions of grounded slate/cement mortars at different ages.

EM 1.75/4.75

EM 2/4

FM 2/5

FM 1.75/5

E 100%

F 100%

EM 2/4

EM 1,75/4,75

FM 2/3,5

FM 1,75/5

GM 1,75/5

LM2/1/1/1

6 5

Flexural strength (N/mm )

3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Shrinkage (mm/m)

4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 20 25

Time (days) Loss of mass (in %)

Fig. 10. Flexural strength of several compositions of grounded slate/cement mortars at different ages.

Fig. 7. Shrinkage measurements and loss of mass of different proportions of grounded slate modied mortar (ambient conditions 20 C and 60% RH).

EM 1.75/4.75 (60 % RH) EM 2/4 (60 % RH)

EM 1.75/4.75 (100 % RH) EM 2/4 (100 % RH)

6 5

As a result of this research stage, it can be concluded that the studied mix proportions achieved all the properties except for shrinkage and segregation in some samples. The shrinkage obtained was 5 mm/m, and a strong dependence on external conditions (temperature and humidity) was recorded. 3.3. Recycled slatecement mortar shrinkage control The last stage of the research was focused on segregation and shrinkage control, adding cement admixtures and modifying water and WRA in order to achieve a spread diameter of 250300 mm in the ow table test. Other properties as density and strength were measured. To achieve low density, granular slate was used as aggregate, substituting 100% of siliceous sand. Short dispersable glass ber (HD ANTICRACK 12 mm, Vetrotex) was added in order to control segregation risk (1% with regard to cement weight). No segregation was observed in any of the samples manufactured in this experimental stage. Methylcellulose powder was added to avoid water loss (acting as a water retainer agent) and a dispersible powder PVA resin (polyvinyl acetate VINNAPAS, manufactured by Wacker Chemie Division) was included to minimize mortar shrinkage. The compositions under study are described in Table 2. All of them reached at least 250300 mm of spread diameter in the ow table test. Shrinkage measurements, using free shrinkage apparatus described in Section 2, are presented in Fig. 12. As can be observed,

Shrinkage (mm/m)

4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time (days)
Fig. 8. Age-shrinkage of samples type EM with different w/c ratios and ambient conditions (20 C and 60% or 100% RH).

Es GPa

q g=cm3 v m=s2
106

where q (g/cm3) is the density of the mortar and v (m/s)2 the ultrasonic pulse velocity in the mortar specimen.

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E 100%

EM 2/4 100%

EM 1,75/4,75 100%

100

% Compressive strength

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 10 15 20 25

Time (days)
E 100% EM 2/4 100% EM 1,75/4,75 100%

100 90

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 10 15 20 25

Time (days)
Fig. 11. Compressive and exural strength development of different proportions of grounded slate modied mortar. It can be observed that WRA modies bending strength development but has very little effect on compressive strength.

HM 1,5/1/0

HM 1,75/1/1

HM 2,25/1/2

LM 2/1/1/1 (PVA)

4 3 2 1 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

-1

Time (days)
Fig. 12. Shrinkage measurements of different proportions of grounded slate modied mortar.

the inclusion of methylcellulose delays the start of the shrinkage, and the same effect occurs when PVA resin is included. With a 1% of admixture to cement ratio, by weight of both admixtures (methylcellulose and PVA resin), shrinkage was reduced dramatically (less than 0.5 mm/m). Compressive and exural strength results of standard specimens tested at different ages of this composition are also recorded in Figs. 9 and 10, respectively. 4. Discussion The rst focus of the research has been the study of the behaviour of the grounded slate residual when mixed with cement. Preliminary results of the Vicat needle test (standard UNE-EN

1963 [17]) of cementgrounded slate pastes show slight differences on initial and nal setting times regarding the different cement pastes. An increase on the setting time (from beginning to end setting) is observed as grounded slate content increases. The mechanical strength measured also conrmed hardening of cementslate pastes. MEB and EDAX analysis have been conducted and a good compatibility between grounded slate and hydrated cement has been recorded. The results and micrographics show that the smaller particles of slate (under 250 lm) react with hydrated cement, producing an interphase of both components, with a high presence of hydrated cement products. These results support the aim of the research, as the inclusion of the slate wastes implies a waste valorisation instead of a waste disposal. The slate chemical activity described agrees with some published studies [12], and contradicts others [11]. This apparent contradiction can be related to divergences of slate properties, when comparing different deposits. In order to achieve a sound mortar performance, different minor components were included. Therefore, in each stage a variable was changed while the rest remained constant. The inclusion of different quantities of WRA to achieve the same owability in the ow table shows that the relation between owability and WRA is not lineal. The relation between shrinkage and mass loss is not linear either. The compositions without WRA had larger amounts of uncombined water, which produced larger porosity. But only a part of the water loss has produced shrinkage. This fact implies that only a small part of the porosity corresponds to capillary pores. When WRA is included, the loss of mass produces greater shrinkage. This phenomenon is more prominent when compositions include a mixture of granular slate and siliceous sand. Shrinkage highly depends largely on room conditions for compositions without methylcellulose or PVA, but it does not modify the beginning of shrinkage. Autogenous shrinkage (shrinkage measured on samples cured in saturated ambient) occurred mainly during the rst 48 h and corresponds to 20% of the total shrinkage (drying and autogenous shrinkage, measured on samples cured at room conditions). Therefore, the difference between total and autogenous shrinkage corresponds to the drying shrinkage. The inclusion of granular slate as aggregate reduces the density and produces a slight decrease in strength. In addition, the type of aggregate has not inuence on shrinkage. Regarding strength, a delay of exural strength development due to WRA is measured. In the last stage of the experimental program, the inclusion of admixtures allowed a reduction of shrinkage, even under the limit of 1.2 mm/m. All the admixtures incorporated were in powder form in order to obtain a dry packed mixture. As powder admixtures increase water demand to achieve the same owability, the quantities used were reduced to the minimum necessary to be effective. It can be highlighted that the use of powder admixtures produces the opposite effect of liquid admixtures, which usually act as WRA, due to the inclusion of surfactants in their composition [23]. The inclusion of short bers controls segregation, as they disperse in the paste and prevents particle displacements. To control segregation 1% of ber to cement ratio, by weight, has proven satisfactory. The addition of 1% of methylcellulose (MC) produces an important reduction of shrinkage without signicantly increasing water demand necessary to achieve the same owability. The shrinkage measured corresponds to the autogenous shrinkage of compositions without MC in saturated ambient. The inclusion of MC delays the shrinkage development.

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Shrinkage (mm/m)

% Flexural strength

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Finally, the inclusion of PVA resin nally monitored mortar shrinkage to an even lower level than the autogenous shrinkage previously measured. The strength results show a delay in hardening, due to the lack of water loss caused by methylcellulose water retention effect and PVA waterproong effect. The mechanical strength fulls the requirements needed for the proposed use. 5. Conclusions A self-levelling cement mortar with a high volume of grounded slate has been achieved. After having performed a research which unfolded in three stages ((a) evaluate cementslate chemical activity; (b) to characterize physical and mechanical properties in the fresh and the hardened state; (c) to implement the mortar composition in order to achieve reduced shrinkage maintaining low density, large owability without segregation and moderate strength) the following conclusions can be drawn: SEM/EDAX analysis has demonstrated the existence of cement slate chemical activity, dening an interphase composed by slate and hydrated cement products. These results support the aim of the research, as the inclusion of the slate wastes implies a waste valorisation and not a waste disposal. With the inclusion of several admixtures, the development of a self-levelling mortar has been possible. In addition, the required properties, included shrinkage control have been achieved. Considering the dry packed mortar performance, all the admixtures were in powder form. By the inclusion of WRA, methylcellulose and PVA resin, an improvement of the mixture is obtained, monitoring shrinkage to a level even lower than autogenous shrinkage of mixtures without admixtures. The use of low amounts of glass dispersible short bers can control mortars segregation. Further research on long term behaviour and eld cracking tests would be necessary to develop a commercial cementslate mortar. Acknowledgements The authors want to acknowledge the collaboration in the experimental program of the students Iranzu Serra, Laura Casanueva and Irene Herrera. The authors also want to thank all the human and technical support supplied by PAS, LTD and to E. Salvador of SIDI, UAM. Some of the results presented correspond to a project partially supported by CDTI. Finally, we would also like

to thank Prof. Isabel Salto-Weis for the kind language revision of the manuscript. References
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Please cite this article in press as: Barluenga G, Hernndez-Olivares F. Self-levelling cement mortar containing grounded slate from quarrying waste. Constr Build Mater (2010), doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.02.033