Production and characterization of artificial stone for coating with limestone waste laminated in polymeric matrix

Abstract Exploiting laminated limestone from Cariri Ceará for ornamental and coating purposes has generated about 2.9 million tons of waste, which is discarded of improperly, making it important to search for alternatives to this material. Thus, this work aims to develop artificial stone for wall and floor coating, using laminated limestone waste (Cariri Stone) and a polyester resin. Initially, Cariri stone waste was characterised, and then artificial stone was made with 25% resin and 75% waste, by volume. Water absorption tests and resistance to compression, flexion, abrasion and hard body impact were performed on the composites produced. The results showed that the artificial stone presented water absorption about 5 times lower and abrasion resistance 448% higher than the natural stone, compressive and flexural strength 38.8% and 72.9% lower than the natural stone, respectively, and energy values equivalent to the commercial natural stone in the hard body impact test. It can be observed that the composite produced has a technical potential for use as a coating in civil construction, after adjusting the production process of the artificial stone.