Perlite concrete: a review

Abstract

The thermal resistance of concrete significantly influences the energy consumption of the building. Consequently, concrete with high thermal resistance can contribute to the envelope’s energy efficiency. In order to obtain the thermal conductivity performance required for the passive house standard using the principles of sustainable development, it is essential to analyze the thermal improvement solutions of the concrete with a low impact on the environment. For this reason, it is necessary to analyze methods of improving concrete’s thermal performance by replacing aggregates with ecological materials like perlite. Perlite is a common term used for a glassy natural volcanic rock used in construction in various mixtures for its fire resistance, low density, and thermal and acoustic improvement properties. While processing raw perlite (cutting, grinding, and fractionation to various sizes), large amounts of powder are collected and stored as waste. Currently, only limited amounts of waste perlite powder are recycled in the construction industry, which urges the efficient use of this waste to limit the impact on the environment. There are various studies about concrete mixtures with perlite from the point of view of structural strength. However, the results are contradictory, influenced by the size of used particles and the replacement levels in the mixture. This article aims to present the current state of knowledge regarding the characteristics of the mixture between concrete and perlite.