Can you have glass pieces and aluminum chips in fine concrete?

[Solle1980]

Hello
I am going to cast a countertop for an outdoor kitchen that will be 4m long, 90cm wide, and 4.5cm thick. I plan to use rebar and fine concrete from Byggmax. In the concrete itself, I plan to include pieces of glass from wine bottles and aluminum shavings. Does anyone have experience mixing pieces of glass and/or aluminum shavings in fine concrete?
Thanks in advance

 

[Rabbithole]

It will probably be fine, but I'm a bit doubtful that you'll see them. They really have to be on the surface to be visible.

 

[Solle1980]

It should work, but I'm a bit doubtful that you will see them. They really need to be on the surface to be visible

Thank you for the feedback, Johannes.

I was planning to place aluminum chips and glass pieces at the bottom when casting and then flip the slab, after which I intend to sand 1 mm. Is it possible to sand, or will the glass pieces or aluminum chips come loose?

 

[13th Marine]

I seem to recall that someone here on the forum has cast both glass and aluminum rings (or another metal) into a countertop.

Searched quickly but couldn’t find it.

 

[Rabbithole]

Of course, there's a risk they might come loose, just be careful when sanding and it should be fine, some small pieces will probably come off regardless.

 

[Casaloco]

I remember that someone here on the forum cast both glass and aluminum rings (or other metal) into a countertop.

Searched quickly but did not find it.

Are you perhaps thinking of this? https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/arduinostyrd-interaktiv-betongbaenkskiva.249877/

 

[Solle1980]

Are you maybe thinking of this? [link]

Thanks, Casaloco! Now I'm wondering if it will look just as nice without the color pigment? It adds about 1-2 thousand kronor if I want the color pigment, have to consider if it's worth it.

 

[13th Marine]

Are you perhaps thinking of this one? [link]

Okay, then there were two projects, that's probably what I was thinking with the glass pieces, but there was one with embedded rings and RFID tags.

 

[13th Marine]

Found!
https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/gjuta-terazzo-skiva-med-inbyggda-nfc-chip.251887/

 

[Casaloco]

Found!
[link]

Cool project

 

[13th Marine]

Really, I got a bit tempted to cast!

 

[Solle1980]

Cool project

Wow, Really nice result, probably need to make it black or without color pigment for the outdoor kitchen, otherwise, every little dirt will be visible, I assume.

 

[Solle1980]

Hi
I thought I would give a brief feedback on how my project went.
1. The countertop ended up being 5 meters long, so I had to divide the countertop into two parts for easier handling.
2. Do not use Aluminum in concrete/cement. Aluminum reacts with cement and bubbles form, the concrete boils like lava.
I recommend using Cement instead of concrete and for aggregate, you can use decorative stone and crushed wine bottles.

Good luck.