Scholarly record
THE USE OF DIATOMACEOS EARTH IN PRODUCTION OF FOAMED FINE-GRAINED CONCRETE
Abstract
The buildings energy performance is becoming increasingly important, because of environmental restrictions connected with CO2 emission and rising costs of fuel end energy. Respecting sustainability issues, design of buildings with improved thermal properties and optimum energy performance is preferred, whereas specific attention has to be paid not only to the design of building envelopes, but also to the thermal insulation of buildings subsoil. To obtain buildings with high thermal resistance and sufficient thermal stability, the use of materials possessing advanced thermal insulation properties should be taken into consideration. Traditional buildings materials such as concrete and mortar are produced from natural raw materials and in addition with large energy consumption with respect to todayпїЅs economic standards. Here, their proper modification with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) brings positive binder saving while strength maintaining. In comparison with ordinary concretes, foamed composites show several advantages including low weight resulting in better manipulation, possibility of treatment and improved thermal insulation properties. Low specific density together with the saving of input material, as well as environmental aspect, which are the important characteristics of these materials, are ensured by encased character of air voids within their porous structure. By the use of SCMs combined with supporting effect of chemical additives, foaming agents, it is possible to achieve advanced materials having low weight, sufficient mechanical strength and high thermal insulation properties. On this account, the paper is aimed at modification of common fine-grained composite based on Portland cement, silica sand and water in mass ratio 1/3/0.5. At first step, diatomaceous earth powder was used as a cement substitution in 20 vol. %. Then, foaming agent was added into concrete mix in order to develop material with beneficial thermal insulation parameters. Used raw materials were characterized by their chemical composition, particle size distribution and specific surface area. For hardened composites cured 28 days in water, basic physical characteristics, dynamic moduli, mechanical and thermal properties were accessed. Obtained results pointed to an increase in the mechanical resistivity of concrete modified with diatomite admixture. On the other hand, incorporation of foaming agent resulted in a significant decrease in strength parameters. However, improvement of thermophysical properties that what was of the primary importance was achieved. Newly created light-weight concrete was found applicable for construction industry, for example for floor or flat roof structures, facing panels, sheeting, components of light-weight envelopes, etc. Moreover, the developed concrete mix brought both the environmental and economic benefits comparing production costs and functionality of concrete of common composition.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References13
Liu M. Y. J., Alengaram U. J., Jumaat M. Z., Mo K. H., Evaluation of thermal conductivity, mechanical and transport properties of lightweight aggregate foamed geopolymer concrete, Energy and Buildings, vol. 72, 2014, pp 238-245.
Menyhart K., Moncef K., Potential energy savings from deployment of dynamic insulation materials for US residential buildings, Building and Environment, vol. 114, 2017, pp 203-218.
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May, 2010.
Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October, 2012.
Berardi U., A cross-country comparison of the building energy consumptions and their trends, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2016, article in press.
Berardi U., Naldi M., The impact of the temperature dependent thermal conductivity of insulating materials on the effective building envelope performance, Energy and Buildings, vol. 144, 2017, pp 262-275.
Aydin A.C., Gül R., Influence of volcanic originated natural materials as additive on the setting time and some mechanical properties of concrete, Construction and Building Materials, vol. 21, 2007, pp 1277-1281.
Fragoulis E.D., Stamatakis M.G., Papageorgiou D., Chaniotakis E., The physical and mechanical properties of composite cements manufactured with calcareous and clayey Greek diatomite mixtures, Cement Concrete Composites, vol. 27, 2005, pp 205- 209.
Ramamurthy K., Nambair E. K. K., Ranjani G.I.S., A classification of studies of properties of foam concrete, Cement and Concrete Composites, vol. 31, 2009, pp 388- 396.
Amran Y. H. M., Farzadnia N., Ali A.A.A., Properties and applications of foamed concrete; a review, Construction and Building Materials, vol. 101, 2015, pp 900-1005.
Pokorný J., Pavlíková M., Záleská M., Pavlík Z., Rovnaníková P., Coagulated silica- a-SiO₂ admixture in cement paste, AIP Conference Proceeding 1752, 2016, pp 040023-1-040023-6.
Pokorný J., Pavlíková M., Medveď I., Pavlík Z., Zahálková J., Rovnaníková P., Černý, R., Influence of various amount of diatomaceous earth used as cement substitute on mechanical properties of cement paste, AIP Conference Proceeding 1738, 2016, pp 280007-1-280007-4.
Posi P., Lertnimoolchai S., Sata V., Chindaprasirt P., Pressed lightweight concrete containing calcined diatomite aggregate, Construction and Building Materials, vol. 47, 2013, pp. 896-901.
Citing literature
Number of times cited according to Crossref: 1
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
