*2.2. Parameters of Plates Development*

To determine the closest-packed mixture, a ternary diagram based on the experimental numeric-modeling grid simplex (simplex-lattice design) (Figure 1), based on the ABNT/MB-3388 Brazilian standard [21], was proposed. Ten (10) different mixtures of the three granulometric ranges were proposed. The proportions are indicated in Figure 1. Each mixture was placed in a 1013.24 cm<sup>3</sup> steel vessel coupled to a 10 kg weight, under 60 Hz of vibration for 10 min.

**Figure 1.** Ternary diagram with the simplex complete cubic model 10 mixtures composition. Proportions of coarse (G), medium (M), and fine (F) particles [7].

The mixture with the greatest vibrated density through packaging was calculated, representing the closest packing of particles, and was chosen for the development of the ENS plates.

The minimum amount of resin (MAR) needed to produce the ENS plates was calculated through the volume void (VV), which is found by Equation (1) [22]:

$$\text{VV\%} = \left(1 - \frac{partics\,\,app\,\,part\,\,dry\,\,density}{glass\,\,density + quartz\,\,density}\right) \times 100\tag{1}$$

The minimum amount of resin (MAR), represented by the amount of resin enough to fill these volume void, were then calculated through Equation (2) [22]:

$$\text{MAR\%} = \frac{\text{VV\%} \times \rho\_{\text{resin}}}{\text{VV\%} \times \rho\_{\text{resin}} + (100 - \text{VV\%}) \times \rho\_{(\text{glass} + \text{quartz})}} \tag{2}$$
