ARTIFICIAL SANDSTONE TILES FROM MARBLE POWDER PHRAN KRATAI KAMPHAENG PHET PROVINCE

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to 1) determine the appropriate mixing proportion of artificial sandstone tiles from marble powder and 2) inspect the produced artificial sandstone tiles against community product standards. The marble powder used is a byproduct from the marble industry in Phran Kratai district, Kamphaeng Phet province, characterized by its white color with a specific gravity of 2.92, primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). The researchers dried and ground the marble powder, then combined it with white Portland cement and fine sand to test its physical and mechanical properties, including density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength." Subsequently, the researchers actually fabricated the tiles from the marble powder mixture for evaluation based on community product standards (M.Po.Ch. 194/2546). The tests showed that the M-4 formula, which is made up of white Portland cement, marble powder, and fine sand in a ratio of 1:1.5:1.5, had the best properties, with maximum compressive strengths of 179.25 kg/cm² and flexural strengths of 71.97 kg/cm². The water absorption rate found was 2.63%. Expert assessments based on community product standards yielded a score of 3.08 out of 4. The resulting artificial sandstone tiles showed a lightweight design and high strength, with their production costs being fifty percent lower than those found in the market. Furthermore, this also represents the sustainable use of local waste materials for future benefits.