Development of Artificial Granite with Epoxy Resin Matrix Mixed with Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

The demand for environmentally friendly products with good performance has grown a lot in recent years. The construction industry generates a large amount of waste, favoring the production of artificial stones with properties superior to natural ornamental stones without compromising aesthetics. The objective of this work is to develop and characterize an artificial stone made with granite waste, from the cutting stages of a quarry, in an epoxy resin matrix mixed with cashew oil, ASG-EC. Tests were carried out to evaluate the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the stone, in addition to analyzing the microstructure. The ASG-EC presented density (2.21 g/cm(3)) within the expected range, high values of water absorption (1.02%) and apparent porosity (2.25%), and it is considered of very high resistance with flexural strength of 23.18 MPa. Furthermore, it proved to be resistant to chemical attacks, showing a change in color only when exposed to C6H8O7, CH3COOH and KOH.