Durability of Thermal Renders with Lightweight and Thermal Insulating Aggregates: Regranulated Expanded Cork, Silica Aerogel and Expanded Polystyrene.

André Morgado,Maria do Rosário Veiga,António Soares,Inês Flores-Colen,Maria Glória Gomes

doi:10.3390/gels7020035

André Morgado, Maria do Rosário Veiga + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7020035

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Abstract

Following the trend of energy-efficient construction, renders with thermal insulation properties have been studied for replacing conventional renders. However, there are still few studies on the durability of these renders that may become a barrier for their implementation. In this study, the performance of lightweight renders for thermal insulation to accelerated aging cycles and freeze/thaw cycles is discussed. For this purpose, renders with regranulated expanded cork (GEC), silica aerogel (SA), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) were produced and tested for compressive strength, ultra-sound velocity, Young’s modulus, and thermal conductivity before and after accelerated aging cycles (hygrothermal, IR and freeze/thaw cycles). With this study, a comparison between the influence of different aggregates on renders is carried out in order to understand their effect on different properties of renders.

Highlights

External renders are critical in the construction as they are the first barrier to degradation agents and play an important role in water-tightness, thermal insulation, masonry, and structure protection by exerting a decisive influence on their durability [1,2]
An increase in weight was recorded with accelerated aging hygrothermal and Infrared Radiation (IR) cycles
With the freeze/thaw cycles there was a reduction in weight, which is indicative of renders degradation

Summary

Introduction

External renders are critical in the construction as they are the first barrier to degradation agents and play an important role in water-tightness, thermal insulation, masonry, and structure protection by exerting a decisive influence on their durability [1,2]. Durable solutions in buildings contribute directly to a reduction in the amount of waste produced, air pollutant gases and a more sustainable construction. With this concern, the study of durability is an increasingly important issue in the construction industry, being intrinsically related to the building quality, climatic conditions and the user’s quality of life [7,9,10]

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