IMPACT OF GRANULES FROM CRUSHED EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE PACKAGE ON PROPERTIES OF THERMO-INSULATING PLASTER

Jurga Šeputytė-Jucikė,Georgij Arsenij Sezeman,Saulius Vaitkus,Modestas Kligys,Marijonas Sinica

doi:10.3846/13923730.2014.922492

Jurga Šeputytė-Jucikė, Georgij Arsenij Sezeman + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2014.922492

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Abstract

The paper deals with the use of lightweight porous aggregate, i.e. crushed expanded polystyrene package crumbs (EPSC) in the composition of thermo-insulating plaster. Its effectiveness is compared to that of spherical granules of expanded polystyrene – white coloured (EPS) and grey coloured (NEOPOR). The content of lightweight aggregate changed from 1.25 to 1.75 l/kg of dry mix. The investigation focused on properties of modified plaster, such as density, compressive strength, thermal conductivity and water vapour permeability. It was established that EPSC reduce density of plaster from 1350 to 530 kg/m3, improving such properties as thermal conductivity and water vapour permeability but decreasing compressive strength. In addition, the paper established the adhesion force of plaster (content of lightweight aggregate was 1.25 l/kg of dry mix) to ceramics, silicate and autoclaved aerated concrete masonry elements. The character of macrostructure of plaster was considered, as well as bonding with a coat of decorative paint. It was found that plaster with EPSC has similar properties to plasters with EPS and NEOPOR aggregates; however, in case of EPSC, the relative vapour resistance is better. The provided regression equations can be used for prediction of differently modified plasters.

Highlights

Coating of masonry surfaces with plaster may be problematic due to incompatibility between enclosure components
Samples with NEOPOR had a slightly higher density, which is understandable as the mass of NEOPOR is higher by almost 30% than that of expanded polystyrene package crumbs (EPSC) or expanded polystyrene – white coloured (EPS)
If the strength of a sample without lightweight aggregates (T-1) reaches 1.4 MPa, together with the increase in lightweight aggregate content, the compressive strength decreases proportionally from 0.4 MPa (when the content of aggregate is from 1.25 l to 0.3 MPa (1.5 l/1 kg) and to 0.2 MPa (1.75 l/1 kg)

Summary

Introduction

Coating of masonry surfaces with plaster may be problematic due to incompatibility between enclosure components. The density of building materials including plasters can be reduced in several ways, e.g. using lightweight aggregates with thermo-insulating properties (Mikulskiy et al 2007; Ries 2008); and porizing – expanding the aggregate-linking matrix by air; or applying both methods together – expanding the matrix of a composite and using lightweight aggregates (Sinica et al 2005, 2008). Autoclaved (Ungkoon et al 2007) and nonautoclaved (Narayanan, Ramamurthy 2000) aerated concretes should be emphasised among products of porous structure. In this case, porous structure is formed with the help of gasifiers and foamers. It should be noted that aerated concretes, produced using these both methods can result in a reduced density of up to 300 kg/m3 (Ramamurthy, Narayanan 2000)

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