Abstract
Recycling plastic waste has been one of the most significant challenges in the recent decade. The reuse of one of the most produced cellular plastics (i.e. EPS) within a conventional construction binder can contribute, simultaneously, to waste elimination and improving energy performances of the building envelopes. This work investigates the recycling of expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste within a cement-based matrix. The aim is to develop a lightweight, energy-efficient composite for eco-construction. Portland cement was mixed with a small amount of gypsum (4 wt%) before adding EPS aggregates ranging from 0–0.6 wt%. The thermal properties were determined using two different non-destructive methods, the transient plane source technique (Hot Disk Method) and the Flash method. The experimental results showed a remarkable decrease of 54, 12, and 36% in thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and density, respectively. These results indicate the improvement of thermal resistance of EPS-cement-gypsum- mixes. In addition, water absorption and compressive tests revealed that cement-based composites containing EPS beads have improved durability and can be used for structural and insulation purposes. Finally, Numerical results indicated that energy savings of up to 18% may be achieved by applying produced waste-based mortar, underscoring the promise of using this product for building energy efficiency benefits.
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