Developing Textile Reinforced LC³ Mortar Panels with Recycled Textile Waste Fibers and Residue Fillers

In the transition towards a circular economy, the use of waste and byproduct materials in construction is gaining attention for its potential to enhance sustainability. This study examines the mechanical properties —including flexural and compressive strengths— of various ternary matrices, known as limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), developed with residue fillers and metakaolin. Subsequently, laminated textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) panels were fabricated using 100% Portland cement (PC) and an optimized LC3 matrix (containing ≤ 50% PC). These TRM panels, structured as sandwich-like laminates, were reinforced with nonwoven fabrics made from textile waste (TW) fibers sourced from garment industries. Results revealed that the mechanical properties of LC3 matrices were comparable to conventional PC, achieving flexural and compressive strengths exceeding 10 MPa and 120 MPa (at 28 days), respectively. Both LC3 and PC-based TRM plates demonstrated flexural-hardening behavior, achieving flexural strength of greater 10.0 MPa and energy absorption above 5.0 kJ/m2 (at 7 days). The study highlights that reducing PC content to ≤ 50%, replacing limestone powder with filler wastes, and utilizing recycled fibers as reinforcement can meet the performance requirements of cement panel boards for limited structural applications, contributing significantly to sustainable construction practices.