Experimental Study on Thermal Characteristics of Environment-Friendly Blocks with Water-Absorbing Polymer

Abstract

Urbanization together with increased population and industrialization has increased impermeable areas including asphalt and concrete pavement, leading to potential dangers of environmental disasters in urban area. While environmental pavements have been investigated to mitigate these problems in some countries such as Germany and Japan, little work has been done in Korea. Furthermore, most studies on environmental pavements have focused on permeable asphalt pavements. This study was intended to develop new materials for water-absorbing pavement blocks to control pavement temperature and storm water runoff. Bottom ash, which is a coal combustion by-products, was used as a composing material for these blocks. A polymer with water absorption ratio of 76% was used as a water-retention material for the pavement blocks. The effect of block compositions on mechanical characteristics, compressive strength and porosity were examined as well as thermal characteristics. This water-absorbing polymer is likely to be suitable to be used with the bottom ash blocks. The time required to fill the pores of the blocks with the polymer ranged from 9 to 14 sec, indication that the polymer can be readily applied to the blocks. The final products with optimum compositions satisfied the Korean Standard for blocks and possessed an excellent water-retentive ability. Experiments are ongoing to measure the properties of the blocks for further application as a new construction material.