Lightweight Cement-Based Composites Incorporating Hollow Glass Microspheres: Fresh and Hardened State Properties

Abstract

This research aims to develop a lightweight cementitious composite with satisfying mechanical and good thermal insulating properties. Two different types of hollow glass microspheres (HGM) were used as lightweight aggregates and were substituted with fine aggregate by 10, 20, and 40% by volume. The rheological, physical, mechanical, and microstructural properties of the resulting HGM-incorporated composites were investigated and correlations were established between physical and mechanical test results. The results showed that the physical and mechanical properties of individual HGM particles play a dominant role in the properties of lightweight mortars. HGM addition provided reductions up to 20% in the density and 45% in the thermal conductivity values of mortars compared to the reference. The best HGM ratio in the tested range was found as 20%, which provides benefits such as reduced density and enhanced thermal insulation capability without causing a significant reduction in compressive strength. It was concluded that HGMs can be used in the lightweight cementitious mortar production which has great potential in building applications to reduce the heating energy consumption.

Development and characteristics of ultra high-performance lightweight cementitious composites (UHP-LCCs)

“…8 and Table 6). Similar trends were also observed by other studies especially at lower substitution ratio of HGM [91][92][93]. Although the incorporation of HGM increased the amount of voids in the matrix, several benefits were also triggered by the HGM inclusion: The use of a small amount of HGM could reduce the entrapped air content of the paste matrix owing to the lubrication effect [91].…”

A new simplified method for calculating short-term and long-term consolidation settlements of multi-layered soils considering creep limit

“…This result means that, within a specific amount of HGM usage, the amount of HGM had insignificant effect on the strength of the L-UHPC. Previous studies [101][102][103] also reported that the use of HGM below a specified volume could slightly increase the mechanical properties of the concrete mixtures.…”