Thermal Characterization of Foam Concrete Panels Containing Expanded Perlite-Polystyrene, Foam and Aerogel Layer

Abstract

For our country, which has few renewable energy supplies, energy sustainability is becoming increasingly vital. Foam concrete is a porous building material having air spaces created by foaming agents, as well as a high energy efficiency due to its pores. The goal of this research is to create building materials with high insulation properties by using expanded perlite and granular polystyrene foam as aggregates in foam concrete, as well as by creating an aerogel layer on the concrete surface. Thermal conductivity, physical and mechanical properties of samples produced using various cement types and aggregate ratios were analyzed. Thermal conductivity values and mechanical properties were found to be better in foam concrete samples made with Portland composite cement. The use of Portland composite cement resulted in the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient of 0,09848 W/m.K. The use of less expanded perlite in foam concrete, likewise polystyrene foam, increased the thermal conductivity coefficient. It has been discovered that using silica aerogel as a layer has no major effect on the change in the thermal conductivity coefficient, and more extensive studies should be conducted on its use in foam concrete.

Keywords

• Foam concrete
• Expanded perlite
• Polystyrene foam
• Aerogel
• Thermal conductivity

References

1. 1. Liu, Peng, Yan Feng Gong, Guo Hua Tian, and Zheng Kun Miao. "Preparation and Experimental Study on the Thermal Characteristics of Lightweight Prefabricated Nano-Silica Aerogel Foam Concrete Wallboards." Construction and Building Materials 272 (2021), 121895.
2. 2. Uluer, O.K., İ.; Aktaş, M.; Durmuş, G.; Ağbulut, Ü.; Khanlari, A.; Çelik; D., Genleştirilmiş perlitin ısı yalıtım teknolojilerinde kullanılabilirliğinin incelenmesi. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, (2018), 24(1): p. 36-42.
3. 3. Topcu, I.B. and B. Isikdag, Manufacture of high heat conductivity resistant clay bricks containing perlite. Building and Environment, (2007), 42(10): p. 3540-3546.
4. 4. Lanzon, M. and P.A. Garcia-Ruiz, Lightweight cement mortars: Advantages and inconveniences of expanded perlite and its influence on fresh and hardened state and durability. Construction and Building Materials, (2008), 22(8): p. 1798-1806.
5. 5. Valore, J. and R. C., Cellular concretes part 1 composition and methods of preparation. Journal Proceedings, (1954), 50(5): p. 773-796.
6. 6. Laukaitis, A., R. Zurauskas, and J. Keriene, The effect of foam polystyrene granules on cement composite properties. Cement & Concrete Composites, (2005), 27(1): p. 41-47.
7. 7. Amran, Y.H.M., N. Farzadnia, and A.A.A. Ali, Properties and applications of foamed concrete; a review. Construction and Building Materials, (2015), 101: p. 990-1005.
8. 8. Ramamurthy, K., E.K.K. Nambiar, and G.I.S. Ranjani, A classification of studies on properties of foam concrete. Cement & Concrete Composites, (2009), 31(6): p. 388-396.

9. 9. Shi, Jinyan, Yuanchun Liu, Baoju Liu, and Dan Han. "Temperature Effect on the Thermal Conductivity of Expanded Polystyrene Foamed Concrete: Experimental Investigation and Model Correction." Advances in Materials Science and Engineering 2019 (2019).
10. 10. Jones, M.R. and A. McCarthy, Preliminary views on the potential of foamed concrete as a structural material. Magazine of Concrete Research, (2005), 57(1): p. 21-31.
11. 11. Ravindrarajah, R.S., Bearing strength of concrete containing polystyrene aggregate. Durability of Building Materials and Components 8, Vols 1-4, Proceedings, (1999), p. 505-514.
12. 12. Gencel O, Oguz M, Gholampour A, Ozbakkaloglu T. Recycling waste concretes as fine aggregate and fly ash as binder in production of thermal insulating foam concretes. Journal of Building Engineering. (2021) 38:102232
13. 13. Chica, L. and A. Alzate, Cellular concrete review: New trends for application in construction. Construction and Building Materials, (2019) 200: p. 637-647.
14. 14. Sang G, Zhu Y, Yang G, Zhang H. Preparation and characterization of high porosity cement-based foam material. Construction and Building Materials. (2015) 91:133-7.
15. 15. Chen X, Yan Y, Liu Y, Hu Z. Utilization of circulating fluidized bed fly ash for the preparation of foam concrete. Construction and Building materials. (2014) 54:137-46.
16. 16. Oren, O. H., Gholampour, A., Gencel, O., & Ozbakkaloglu, T. Physical and mechanical properties of foam concretes containing granulated blast furnace slag as fine aggregate. Construction and Building Materials, (2020). 238,
17. 17. Jiang, J., Lu, Z., Niu, Y., Li, J., & Zhang, Y. Study on the preparation and properties of high-porosity foamed concretes based on ordinary Portland cement. Materials & Design, (2016). 92, 949-959.
18. 18. Koksal, F., Y. Sahin, and O. Gencel, Influence of expanded vermiculite powder and silica fume on properties of foam concretes. Construction and Building Materials, (2020), 257.
19. 19. Markin, V., Nerella, V. N., Schröfl, C., Guseynova, G., & Mechtcherine, V. Material design and performance evaluation of foam concrete for digital fabrication. Materials, (2019). 12(15), 2433.
20. 20. Canbaz, M., Dakman, H., Arslan, B., & Buyuksungur, A. The effect of high-temperature on foamed concrete. Computers and Concrete, (2019), 24(1), 1-6.
21. 21. Short, A.a.W.K., Lightweight concrete. 1963.
22. 22. Wang, L., Wang, C., Liu, P., Jing, Z., Ge, X., & Jiang, Y. The flame resistance properties of expandable polystyrene foams coated with a cheap and effective barrier layer. Construction and Building Materials, (2018), 176, 403-414.
23. 23. Al Zaidi, A.K.A., B. Demirel, and C.D. Atis, Effect of different storage methods on thermal and mechanical properties of mortar containing aerogel, fly ash and nano-silica. Construction and Building Materials, (2019), 199: p. 501-507.
24. 24. Liu, S., Zhu, K., Cui, S., Shen, X., & Tan, G. A novel building material with low thermal conductivity: Rapid synthesis of foam concrete reinforced silica aerogel and energy performance simulation. Energy and Buildings, (2018), 177, 385-393.
25. 25. Huang, Y. and J. Niu, Energy and visual performance of the silica aerogel glazing system in commercial buildings of Hong Kong. Construction and Building Materials, (2015), 94: p. 57-72.
26. 26. Cuce, E., Cuce, P. M., Wood, C. J., & Riffat, S. B. Toward aerogel based thermal superinsulation in buildings: a comprehensive review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, (2014), 34, 273-299.
27. 27. Kim, S., Seo, J., Cha, J., & Kim, S. Chemical retreating for gel-typed aerogel and insulation performance of cement containing aerogel. Construction and Building Materials, (2013). 40, 501-505.
28. 28. Yoon, H.-S., Lim, T.-K., Jeong, S.-M., & Yang, K.-H. Thermal transfer and moisture resistances of nano-aerogel-embedded foam concrete. Construction and Building Materials, (2020). 236, 117575.