Expanded Vermiculite Research Articles

Cost‐Effective Approach for Fabrication of High‐Quality Expanded Vermiculite for Alizarin Red S Removal From Aqueous Media

AbstractVermiculite is extensively utilized for several applications, including as a hydroponic substrate, for soil conditioning, oil cleansing, and addressing trace metal pollution. In this study, the expansion of natural vermiculite was easily achieved by utilizing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with the aid of microwave technology. The characterization of expanded vermiculite involved the use of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption isotherm (BET), and energy dissipation X‐rays (EDX). The vermiculite has been enlarged to have a structure resembling flakes, and its surface area measures 73.9 m2/g. The adsorption of Alizarin Red S onto expanded vermiculite was investigated under varying conditions, such as pH, starting concentration, adsorbent content, and duration of exposure. The enlarged vermiculite achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 182.5 mg/g for Alizarin Red S. Out of the three adsorption isotherm models, both the Freundlich and Temkin models accurately describe the adsorption of Alizarin Red S onto expanded vermiculite. When studying adsorption kinetics, the second‐order adsorption kinetic model is more appropriate than the first‐order adsorption kinetic model, as indicated by an R2 value of 0.8964.

Expanded vermiculite acting as artificial flaws to enhance the tensile properties of high-strength engineered cementitious composites

In this study, an expanded vermiculite (EV) was proposed to substitute silica sand, and act as artificial flaws in high-strength engineered cementitious composites (ECC) to improve its ductility. Experimental and analytical investigations were conducted on the mechanical behavior, micromechanical analysis and microstructural analysis of ECC from macro-, meso-, and micro-scales. The results demonstrated that the inclusion of EV reduced the compressive strength of ECC composites from 77.6 MPa to 60.2 MPa, although this does not hinder its role as a constituent of high-strength concrete (60 MPa). However, compared with that of 2.56 % in reference ECC mixture, due to the EV addings, the strain capacity of ECC mixtures was increased up to 8.22 %. On the other hand, incorporating fine EV particles (0.15 mm, 0.42 mm, and 2 mm) was positive to the tensile strength of ECC mixtures with a 23 % improvement, while the addition of coarser EV (1–3 mm and 3–5 mm) led to an 8 % reduction. At microscale, the incorporation of EV reduced the critical flaw size and increased the flaw size, significantly increased the number of active flaws, as a result, more micro-cracks were initiated, and thus greatly improving ductility of ECC.

The Effect of Expanded Vermiculite on the Fire Resistance of Waterborne Acrylic Coatings.

Due to their ability to prevent or slow the spread of fires, fire-retardant coatings are utilized as the main means of fire protection for steel structures, combining easy application and high economic efficiency. This study investigates the effects of the particle size and dosage of expanded vermiculite (EV) on the fire resistance and application performance of coatings. Ammonium polyphosphate, melamine, and pentaerythritol were used as intumescent fire-retardant systems, along with waterborne hydroxyl-modified acrylic resins as the film-forming substances. The properties of fire resistance coatings were tested via scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and cone calorimetry. The excellent fire performance of the coatings with 3 wt.% 300-mesh EV was proven, exhibiting a relative expansion of 30.43 times. Moreover, the surface structure of the charcoal layer was dense. The total smoke production (TSP) and smoke concentration (TSR) were only 0.18 m2 and 0.25 m2/m2.

Novel Multidimensional Composite Development for Aging Resistance of SBS-Modified Asphalt by Attaching Zinc Oxide on Expanded Vermiculite

Novel Multidimensional Composite Development for Aging Resistance of SBS-Modified Asphalt by Attaching Zinc Oxide on Expanded Vermiculite

Impact of waste rockwool on the performance of LC3-based lightweight mortar: A promising solution for greener construction

The objective of this study is to explore the influence of waste rockwool (RW) on the mechanical strength and fire resistance performance of high-volume expanded vermiculite (EVM) lightweight mortar made with limestone-calcined clay cement (LC3). LC3 binder was prepared by blending ordinary Portland cement (OPC), metakaolin (MK), and limestone (LS) powder at weight percentages of 40, 40, and 20 wt%, respectively. LC3-based lightweight mortar with a binder-to-aggregate ratio of 1:3 was prepared by replacing 50 vol% of the sand with EVM aggregate. The waste RW was added to the EVM-blended LC3 mortar with different percentages of 1, 3, and 5 % by weight of binder. The compressive strength, flexural strength, drying shrinkage, bulk density, thermal conductivity, fire resistance, and microstructural properties of the hardened LC3-lightweight mortars were determined in accordance with ASTM standards after 28 days of water curing. The results revealed remarkable enhancements in both mechanical and fire resistance performances with RW addition. The addition of 3 wt% RW into the EVM-blended LC3 mortar provided the appropriate enhancement ratios of 56.55 % and 52.83 % in compressive and flexural strengths respectively and increased the fire resistance rating by 25 %. A residual compressive strength of 76.19 % has been maintained after exposure to standard fire for an hour (1 h). The doping of RW into the EVM-blended LC3 mortars led to significant reduction in drying shrinkage rate. A slight, insignificant variation in the thermal conductivity of EVM-blended LC3 lightweight mortar incorporated with RW has been obtained. RW addition resulted in improved microstructure in terms of compactness.

Adsorption and ion exchange of toxic metals by Brazilian clays: clay selection and studies of equilibrium, thermodynamics, and binary ion exchange modeling.

In this study, four Brazilian clays (Bofe, Verde-lodo, commercial Fluidgel, and expanded commercial vermiculite) were evaluated for their adsorptive capacity and removal percentage in relation to different toxic metals (Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+). The best results were obtained by expanded vermiculite, with cadmium removal reaching values of 95%. The most promising clay was modified by the sodification process, and the metal cadmium was used to evaluate the ion exchange process. The clays expanded vermiculite (EV) and VNa-sodified vermiculite were evaluated by equilibrium study at 25, 35, and 45 °C. At 25 °C, EV obtained a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.368 mmol/g and sodified vermiculite 0.480 mmol/g, which represents an improvement of 30.4% in modified clay capacity. At 45 °C, the sodified vermiculite reached 0.970 mmol/g adsorption capacity. The Langmuir, Redlich-Peterson Freundlich, and Dubinin-Raduskevich models were adjusted to the results. Langmuir provided the best fit among the models. The thermodynamic quantities (ΔS, ΔH, and ΔG) demonstrated that the process is spontaneous and endothermic and the metal is captured by physisorption and chemisorption in the studied temperature range. For the ion exchange equilibrium, the binary Langmuir and binary Langmuir-Freundlich models were adjusted to the expanded vermiculite and sodified vermiculite isotherms, respectively. Both models were predictive. Thermal analysis indicated good heat resistance even after material modification. The apparent and real densities demonstrated that after each treatment or contamination, the clayey material undergoes contraction in its structure. An improved efficiency of the adsorbent was found after sodification.

SOME PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LIGHTWEIGHT MORTARS WITH EXPANDED VERMICULITE

<p class="ABSTRACT">Expanded vermiculite was added to the cement-lime mortar at 10%, 20% and 30%, which reduced the density of the hardened mortar (HM) without expanded vermiculite (EV) by an average of 8,3% for the HM with 10% EV, 14,7% for the HM with 20% EV and 24,2% for the HM with 30% EV. Compressive and flexural strength and static modulus of elasticity were investigated and the relationships between these properties were determined. The effect of the added amount of EV on: total porosity, air void content and capillary suction of HM according to SIA 262, Appendix A; capillary water absorption; gas permeability and air permeability; water permeability and internal freeze/thaw resistance up to 200 cycles was investigated and determined.</p>

Performance Analysis of Vermiculite–Potassium Carbonate Composite Materials for Efficient Thermochemical Energy Storage

In this study, the preparation of the composite material consisting of expanded vermiculite (EV) and potassium carbonate (K2CO3) was conducted using a solution impregnation method. Sorption and desorption experiments were undertaken to investigate the dynamic and thermodynamic properties of the EV/K2CO3 composites with varying salt contents. The findings suggest that the EV/K2CO3 composites effectively address the issues of solution leakage resulting from the deliquescence and excessive hydration of pure K2CO3 salt, thereby substantially improving the water sorption capacity and overall stability of the composite materials. The salt content plays a vital role in the sorption and desorption processes of EV/K2CO3 composites. As the salt content rises, the resistance to sorption mass transfer increases, resulting in a decline in the average sorption rate. Concurrently, as the salt content increases, there is a corresponding increase in the average desorption rate, water uptake, and heat storage density. Specifically, at a temperature of 30 °C and a relative humidity of 60%, the EVPC40 composite with a salt content of 67.4% demonstrates water uptake, mass energy density, and volumetric energy density values of 0.68 g/g, 1633.6 kJ/kg, and 160 kWh/m3, respectively. In comparison to pure K2CO3 salt, the utilization of EV/K2CO3 composites under identical heat demand conditions results in a 57% reduction in the required reaction material. This study offers essential empirical evidence and theoretical backing for the utilization and development of EV/K2CO3 composites within thermochemical energy storage systems.

Integrated gypsum composite material for energy storage and thermal insulation: Assessment of mechanical performance, thermal properties and environmental impact

The development of gypsum-based construction materials with energy storage and thermal insulation functions is crucial for regulating indoor temperatures, reducing building energy consumption, and mitigating CO2 emissions. In this study, graphene and expanded vermiculite (EV) were used as paraffin carriers to prepare a novel dual-carrier composite energy storage material called P/G-EV, which was developed through ultrasound, a constant-temperature water bath, and vacuum adsorption. In addition, a novel energy storage–thermal insulation integrated–gypsum (ESTIIG) composite material was developed using P/G-EV as the energy storage layer (ESL) and EV as the thermal insulation layer (TIL) compounded with phosphorus building gypsum. The thermal properties, mechanics, apparent density, temperature control performance in a real environment and environmental impact of ESTIIG were evaluated, and the temperature control mechanism was analyzed. The results reveal superior thermal stability and thermal conductivity of the P/G-EV carrier.P/G-EV overcomes the low thermal conductivity and leakage problems associated with paraffin, exhibiting a phase change temperature and latent heat of 21.7 °C and 101 J/g, respectively, during the heat absorption stage. In ESTIIG, P/G-EV and EV are compounded with phosphorus building gypsum to form an ESL and a TIL. The overall mechanical performance of ESTIIG meets the requirements of construction applications. Among the variants of ESTIIG, ESTIIG-1, with an ESL/TIL thickness ratio of 3:1, exhibits the best real-world temperature control performance and environmental benefits, providing a more stable and comfortable indoor temperature. Furthermore, this study provides data and theoretical references for the design of ESTIIG through real-world temperature control monitoring and analysis of the temperature control mechanism.

Hydrophilicity regulation of carbon nanotubes as phase-change materials for thermal energy storage

Solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) offer exciting prospects for thermal energy conservation, whose performance is greatly affected by the carrier materials. Using expanded vermiculite (EV) as frameworks, carbon nanotube arrays (CNTs) were grown between EV layers by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Then, the paraffin (PA) was loaded on the EV@CNTs composite by vacuum impregnation to prepare composite PCMs (PA/EV@CNTs), where the PA is organic carrier and the EV@CNTs acts as porous supports with high structural strength. The loading capacity of PA is further regulated by the hydrotropism of CNTs which effectively prevents the leakage of molten PA. The in-situ grown CNTs significantly improves the thermal conductivity of PCMs, improving the efficiency of energy conversion. With maximum PA loading capacity of 95 wt%, the thermal conductivity of PA/EV@CNTs-95% reaching 0.7176 W/mK, which was 1.73 and 2.96 times higher than that of pristine EV and PA. The phase change latent heat of PA/EV@CNTs-95% was measured to be 168.54 J/g, which is 1.48 times higher than that of PA/EV. After 100 cycles, the PA/EV@CNTs still maintains excellent thermal stability, and the enthalpy retention rate is 98.73%. The incorporation of high thermal conductivity amphipathicity CNTs in these PCMs makes them promising candidate for various applications such as energy-efficient buildings, thermal management in electronic devices, and self-cleaning materials.

Two-dimensional interfacial enhanced CO2 adsorption performance of porous organic amine solids: Structure-activity relationships and DFT calculations

The utilization of inexpensive and efficient amine-functionalized adsorbents has become a research hotspot in post-combustion capture technology. Meanwhile, the structure of the support and the selection of organic amines are the primary considerations affecting the CO2 adsorption performance. Herein, the novel solid amine adsorbent materials with amine-support interfacial effect were successfully synthesized in this study by loading four organic amines (TETA, TEPA, PEHA, and PEI) onto expanded vermiculite (EVMT) support with the layered structure. The results indicated that EVMT-50TETA exhibited superior CO2 adsorption capacity (132.5 mg/g) along with effective regeneration capability. This was attributed to the unique layered structure of EVMT that facilitates the dispersion of TETA on its surface or between layers as well as the formation of hydrogen bonds between surface functional groups (–OH) and amines to enhance the amine-support interfacial interaction. Furthermore, the minimal volume expansion of TETA during CO2 adsorption enables improved diffusion of CO2 in channels and enhanced accessibility to active sites. DFT calculations show higher binding energies and faster CO2 adsorption-diffusion rates between TETA and EVMT support. In situ DRIFTS experiments revealed that the process of CO2 adsorption followed the zwitterion mechanism, in which the zwitterion can be reversibly deprotonated to form ammonium carbamate and carbamic acid. This study provides comprehensive insights into the supports and amines interfacial effects through systematic investigation, offering both simplified synthesis strategies and profound theoretical support for studying solid amine adsorbents.

Revisiting bitumen-clay interaction using molecular dynamics: The role of surfactants

Clay has been extensively applied in the research field of modified bitumen to impart excellent anti-aging properties. However, the tendency of agglomeration and nonuniform dispersion in bitumen compromises its modification effect. Surface functionalization of clay holds promise for addressing this issue by enhancing the bitumen-clay interfacial bonding strength to overcome clay self-aggregation, but it requires a profound understanding of bitumen-clay interactions. To explore the interaction mechanisms between diverse surface functionalized clay (also named organoclay) with bitumen at the molecular level and screen out the best one, this study selected four types of surfactants: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), benzethonium chloride (Byssonium), polyquaternary ammonium salt-11 (PolyQAC-11), and CTAB/3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (CTAB/APS), for surface functionalization of clay (Expanded vermiculite, EVMT). Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to determine the distribution patterns and diffusion characteristics of bitumen molecules, and the interaction energy of bitumen and clay, as well as the uniaxial tensile performance of the bitumen-clay interface. The results show that variations in types and loadings of surfactants cause distinct distribution patterns of bitumen subfractions at diverse bitumen-organoclay interfaces. Additionally, Byssonium-EVMT and PolyQAC-11-EVMT display a preference for adsorbing aromatics and resins. The introduction of surfactants significantly reduces the diffusion rates of various bitumen subfractions within the interfacial system. In terms of interaction energy, the compatibility of different clay with bitumen can be ranked as follows: Byssonium-EVMT > Na + -EVMT ≈ PolyQAC-11-EVMT > OVEMT > APS-OEVMT. The findings from tensile simulations agree well with the judgments derived from interaction energy, suggesting that Byssonium-EVMT is the optimal choice for surface functionalization, owing to its outstanding interfacial adhesion performance. This study advances the understanding of compatibility between bitumen and clay, providing theoretical insights for the development of clay-modified bitumen with improved compatibility.

Effect of chitosan on the insulation and smoke absorption properties of expanded vermiculite composites

ABSTRACT In order to improve the thermal insulation and smoking properties of expanded vermiculite matrix composites, a kind of expanded vermiculite (EV)/chitosan (CS) composites was prepared by hot pressing. The effects of CS on smoke density, fire-resistance, insulation, and mechanical properties of the EV/CS composites were studied. The results show that with the increase of CS content, the smoke absorption performance and energy storage modulus of the composites is improved. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis shows that the thermal stability of the EV/CS composite is improved by the presence of chitosan. The pores appear on the surface of the composites after the single-side fire-resistance test. After that, the thermal conductivity of the composites gradually decreases and the insulation performance is improved as the CS content increases. The CS carbonized during the preparation of the composites and thermal decomposition during the test. The morphology results show phase separation of the composites, and the porosity of the composites increases after the test. The reticular structure formed between the EV particles, sodium silicate, and CS molecules reduces the strength loss of the composites.

Synthesis and characterization of Capric acid-Lauric acid/expanded vermiculite as a phase change composite for thermal energy storage

In this study, a new kind of composite phase change material (PCM) using expanded vermiculite (EVM) as the matrix and Capric acid-Lauric acid (CA-LA) binary eutectic as the adsorbent was fabricated by vacuum impregnation technology. The devised composite CA-LA/EVM with 60 % loadage of CA-LA and melts at 18.42 °C with a latent heat of 66.08 J/g. In addition, in order to investigate whether the prepared composite CA-LA/EVM can be used in building envelope for energy conservation, we mixed it as heat regulating medium to prepare the phase change concrete, the mechanical, thermal performance, failure patterns and stress concentration of CA-LA/EVM-based phase change concrete was studied systematically. The results indicate that incorporating CA-LA/EVM into concrete can observably enhance the specific heat capacity and heat storage capacity of concrete. It is important to emphasize that the failure cracks in CA-LA/EVM-based concrete mainly extend along the interface between CA-LA/EVM and cement slurry, the effect of axial strain on the strength of CA-LA/EVM-based phase change concrete has been noted to be particularly significant.

Foam concrete nanocomposites synergistic integration of ultrasonically exfoliated two-dimensional vermiculite nanoplatelets and expanded vermiculite: Mechanical and thermal performance optimisation

This study developed a novel two-dimensional nanoplatelet filler (thickness ≪ diameter in morphology), which significantly improved the mechanical performance of foam concrete. Expanded vermiculite (EV), characterized as a lightweight thermal insulator with porous three-dimensional multilayers microstructure, was exfoliated into two-dimensional vermiculite-based nanoplatelets (NV) filler. A scalable ultrasonic exfoliation methodology was proposed for the preparation of the NV filler by adopting ultrasound as the delamination force and water as the liquid phase. NV filler for the first time was introduced into foam concrete as nano-reinforcement. In this study, the ultrasonication times of 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 90 min were studied to determine the optimal delamination effectiveness. The scanning electron images and transmission electron microscopy identified that 60 min sonication effectively produced well-delaminated NV with a smooth surface and reduced wrinkling. The compressive strength, thermal conductivity, infra thermal observation, porosity, and microstructural morphology were systematically investigated on the nanocomposites containing different fractions of NV filler (0.5 % and 1 % under 15min–90min sonication, respectively), EV (10%–20 %) and various NV/EV combined proportions. The nanocomposite containing 1 %/90min of NV fillers exhibited the most significant enhancement in compressive strength by 27.6 %, corresponding to the improved microstructure and porosity. Of all co-existence NV/EV-derived nanocomposites, the sample containing 1 %/60min NV and 50 % EV suggested the lowest thermal conductivity of 0.304 W/(m K).

Smart Energy Clays: Chemical Vapor Deposition of PEDOT in Expanded Vermiculite Blocks for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Smart Energy Clays: Chemical Vapor Deposition of PEDOT in Expanded Vermiculite Blocks for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Experimental and theoretical study to control the heavy metals in solid waste and sludge during pyrolysis using modified expanded vermiculite

Na+/K+/Mg2+/Ca2+ expansion–modified vermiculite and calcination expansion (700 °C, 800 °C and 900 °C)–modified vermiculite (700-Mg-V, 800-Mg-V and 900-Mg-V) were prepared as additives to control the emission of five heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Cd) during the pyrolysis of municipal sewage sludge, paper mill sludge, municipal domestic waste, and aged refuse. Mg2+-Modified vermiculite obtained via thermally activated calcination at 800 °C retained 65% of heavy metals from all raw materials at 450 °C. Zn, Cr, and Cu retained nearly 90%. Although modified vermiculite could reduce the ecological risk, Cd had an ecological risk level higher than Zn, Cr, Cu, and Pb. The fine textural properties, laminated morphology, and expansion capacity of modified vermiculite were positively correlated with its retention of heavy metals. Heavy metals interacted with the (002) surface of vermiculite, and the reactions were mainly concentrated near the 17-O and surrounding atoms. The heavy-metal monomers were less capable of binding to the (002) surface of vermiculite than the oxides and chlorides of heavy metals. The effect of heavy-metal oxides and chlorides binding to the (002) surface of vermiculite was related to heavy metals.

Microstructure and physical properties of fly-ash-based geopolymer with the addition of expanded vermiculite

Fly-ash-based geopolymer pastes with the addition of expanded vermiculite (EV) powder were synthesised and their microstructure, compressive strength, setting time, moisture control, extent of efflorescence and thermal conductivity were studied. It was found that the addition of EV resulted in an increase in the standard-consistency water consumption and setting times. As a consequence, excessive addition of EV resulted in a larger amount of harmful pores, which was detrimental for the compressive strength of the paste. However, geopolymer pastes with an appropriate amount of EV (2–7 wt%) showed a slight increase in compressive strength because of the filler effect. Mg2+ and Fe3+ diffused from the EV interlayers through ion exchange between the EV and the geopolymer, and participated in geopolymerisation. This was reflected by the formation of N-(M)-A-(F)-S-H, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, Na+/Mg2+ or Na+/Fe3+ ion exchange reduced the mobility of Na+ the ions and therefore decreased the extent of efflorescence. Moreover, EV addition favoured an improvement in moisture content and the thermal conductivity properties of the geopolymer paste.

Performance assessment of capric acid-ethyl alcohol/expanded vermiculite phase change material incorporated cement mortar for thermal insulation in buildings

Due to global warming, the construction sector is looking for newer materials that can be incorporated into buildings to improve occupant thermal comfort while reducing energy consumption. The ability of construction materials to store thermal energy can be enhanced by incorporating phase change materials (PCM). A PCM is a substance that releases and absorbs energy at phase transition temperatures to offer useful heating or cooling. The addition of PCM in construction materials for thermal insulation has been proven beneficial by many researchers. The current study explores the feasibility of the incorporation of an organic PCM composite, which is developed by impregnating expanded vermiculite (EV) with capric acid (CA) using ethyl alcohol (EA) under vacuum conditions in cement mortar. Cement mortar mixes with EV, CA-EA/EV based PCMs, and PCMs with partially added nano silica and coir fiber combinations (PSC) were prepared by replacing fine aggregate in varied weights. Initially, the study on the primary characteristics of the developed PCM was introduced based on mechanical behavior, microstructure observations, and thermal effects. To estimate the field exposure capacity, PCM composite mortar boards were developed and tested for their physical and mechanical characteristics. Based on the findings of these tests, it was concluded that the presence of PCM improves the thermal characteristics of the mortar boards and the addition of nano silica and coir fiber enhances the physical and mechanical strength of the mortar boards. With regard to the characterization of the mortar, there was an increase in flexural strength by 8.06 % and a decrease in chloride diffusivity by 10.24 %, in water absorption by 17 %, the capillary water absorption coefficient by 8.56 % and the ultrasonic pulse velocity by 18.48 % relative to the control sample after addition of PSC into the mortar. Apart from the strength and durability studies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were also carried out to characterize the thermal, chemical and morphological effects of the developed cementitious composite boards. As per the SEM and EDS test results, the fine aggregate replaced with 5 % of PCM in addition to nano silica and coir fiber (PSC-5 %) possesses better compatibility with the mortar by effectively penetrating through the pores. The DSC test results showed the melting and freezing point of PSC-5 % integrated mortar as 32.47 °C and 20.91 °C, respectively. A thermal conductivity value of 0.129 W/m·K also demonstrated the efficiency of PSC-5 % mortar board for maintaining better thermal comfort in buildings. The TGA assessment reported that the proposed PCM composite cement mortar board has excellent thermal durability.

Study on foam concrete incorporated with expanded vermiculite/capric acid PCM – A novel thermal storage high-performance building material

A major part of energy consumption is reported from the residential and commercial buildings due to the large usage of mechanical devices to maintain a comfortable indoor ambiance. Thermal conductivity of the materials used in these buildings can be reduced by using low density materials and an efficient thermal energystorage strategy. In the present paper, the thermal performance ofa building envelope was improved by incorporating phase change material (PCM) into thefoam concrete mix. At first, PCM was developed by using a light weight material, expanded vermiculite (EV) impregnated with capric acid (CA) and ethyl alcohol (EA) under vacuum conditions. Different foam composite mixes were prepared and experimentally tested. Foam concrete mixtures with EV, CA-EA/EV based PCM, and PCM with added nano silica and coir fiber combinations (PSC) were prepared by the replacement of fine aggregate (M−sand) in various weight percentages. This study reveals that PCM with a CA to EV proportion of 55% (wt.) had the maximum adsorption and stability, as assessed through liquid leakage. In addition to improving thermal efficiency, PCM enhanced foam concrete composites showed improved mechanical, hydration, durability, and thermal characteristics. In comparison to the control foam concrete and PCM foam concrete mixes, the addition of nano silica and coir fiber added foam concrete mixtures (PSC) demonstrated improved strength and shrinkage qualities. These improved properties are attributed to the pozzolanic activity of nano silica and the bridging effects resulting from the fiber to micro cracks. Apart from the durability and strength characteristics, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) were adopted to characterize the morphological, chemical, and thermal aspects of the different foamed concrete mixtures. The DSC results proved that the PSC-5% foam concrete mixture had latent heat capacities of 43.90 J/g for cooling and 69.16 J/g for heating, with melting and solidification temperatures of 31.51 °C and of 21.77 °C, respectively. TGA also revealed that theproposed PCM composite has a high thermal resistance. The PSC-5% shows bettercompatibilityas perSEM and EDS tests by the proper penetration of the nano silica in the foamed compositesthrough the pores. Finally, the thermal analysis tests demonstrated that the PSC-5% has a thermal conductivity of 0.129 W/m-K, which is 49.60% lesser than the foam concrete control sample, and also possesses an improved heat storage capacity, which ensures better thermal comfort in buildings.