Lightweight Cement Mortars with Granulated Foam Glass and Waste Perlite Addition

Abstract

This article presents the influence of granulated foam glass (GFG) on thermal insulation and mechanical properties of lightweight cement mortars. The mortars were additionally modified with addition of ground perlite dust. Ground expanded perlite waste was introduced into the cement matrix in the amounts of 10%, 20%, and 30% of cement mass. The results show that application of this waste increases the strength of the mortars as well as decreases their thermal conductivity coefficient. A series of mortars were prepared with introduction of granulated foam glass with mass per unit filler/cement ratio equal to 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2. The aggregate composition of GFG was combined from different monofractions in the range 0–2 mm so that it filled the mortar volume to the maximum. Additionally, mortars were made, in which 20% of 0–0.25 mm GFG volume was replaced with quartz sand with the same granulation. Each mortar series was modified with addition of ground perlite waste in the amount of 20% of cement mass. The results indicate an improvement of thermal insulation properties along with greater participation of perlite in the mortars. The increase of the thermal conductivity coefficient was observed in the mortars, where the GFG was replaced with quartz sand. Greater amount of GFG results in decrease of compressive strength, but it can be improved by replacing part of the lightweight filler with sand or by introducing the addition of ground expanded perlite to the matrix. This also results in lower water absorption of mortars. Research proved that in most cases, the addition of ground expanded perlite decreased the capillary sorption of mortars, as well as the water absorption coefficient by capillary action, with growing proportion of the lightweight filler.

Development and Characterization of Lightweight Geopolymer Composite Reinforced with Hybrid Carbon and Steel Fibers

“…Concrete, including the geopolymer one, is considered light when its dry density is within the range of 800–2000 kg/m 3 [ 20 , 21 ]. Examples of aggregates that can be used to obtain geopolymeric materials with relatively high strength and low density are microspheres [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], vermiculite [ 28 , 29 ], granulated foam glass [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) [ 29 , 33 ], pumice [ 34 , 35 ], perlite [ 36 , 37 , 38 ], and other expanded materials, e.g., clay or glass [ 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Mortars with Crushed Lava Granulate for Repair of Damp Historical Buildings

“…The remaining 13% is made up from natural products, such as cork [41], hemp shive [42], palm date fibers [43], wood wool [44], flax and straw rape [45], etc. Also, inorganic expanded materials, such as perlite and expanded glass have found use in composition of thermal insulation mortars [46,47]. Incorporation of innovative high thermal insulating aggregates, e.g., aerogels, has also been studied but their presence on the market is still at a low level [48,49,50].…”

Granular Aggregates Based on Finely Dispersed Substandard Raw Materials

“…Today, the construction industry does not extensively use fine sands in production technologies, although there are huge reserves across the territories of the globe [23,24]. Since quartz sands with fractions ≤1 mm are not regulated for the construction industry, their storage reserves increase every year, as a result of which foci for dust formation appear, weathering of raw materials occur, dust storms form, and the ecological situation worsens [25,26]. Creation of effective granular aggregates with sufficient physical and mechanical properties based on small quartz sands can reduce the consumption of energy resources during production and reduce the consumption of expensive binders, thereby helping to reduce the negative technogenic burden on the environment in the production of Portland cement [27,28].…”