Silica coated expanded polystyrene/cement composites with improved fire resistance, smoke suppression and mechanical strength

Abstract

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles coated with silica by using epoxy resin as a binder were prepared, and the coated EPS (CEPS) particles were mixed with cement, water and other ingredients to fabricate the cement composites. With an increase in the content of the CEPS particles, the mechanical strengths of the cement composites decrease, and the thermal conductivity of the cement composites firstly decreases and then increases. It is also found that the amount of the silica in the CEPS particles affects the properties of the cement composites. When the content of silica in the CEPS particles increases, the mechanical strengths of the cement composites increase. In the cone calorimeter test, with increasing the amount of the silica, the peak heat release rate reduces, the total heat release and the total smoke release decrease, and the time to ignition is prolonged. The result of the butane torch flame test indicates the excellent fire-proof properties of the cement composites.