Page 97 - New Trends in Green Construction

DEVELOPMENT OF INSULATING MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION BASED ON EXPANDED AGGREGATES IN A GEOPOLYMERIC MATRIX
Jorge Suárez Macías, Juan María Terrones Saeta, Francisco J. Iglesias Godino, Francisco A. Corpas Iglesias
Keywords: geopolymers, expanded aggregates, insulation materials, thermal conductivity, industrial by- products.
1. Introduction.
The present paper will develop an insulation material for buildings with a high percentage of industrial by-products and with suitable resistance and durability properties. To this end, expanded aggregates will initially be formed starting from clay materials that will be, in different percentages of addition, the basis of the density decrease of the final material, and therefore, of the thermal conductivity.
The mortar employed for the manufacture of the insulation materials will be a geopolymer composed with the main by-product of the ceramic industry, named chamotte, which belongs to the ceramic products that, as consequence of their form and aesthetics, are rejected. In order to achieve the proper mechanical resistance, this material must be activated with compounds for such purpose, creating a resistant material with low CO2 emissions in its manufacturing.
Subsequently, different percentages of expanded aggregates will be added, studying the physical properties of the materials obtained, its resistance and, obviously, its thermal conductivity.
2. Materials and methods.
The materials used in this project are mostly industrial by-products, creating a material that is sustainable with the environment and with low CO2 emissions during its manufacturing; among the materials used to conform the geopolymer, the main one is the chamotte, which is produced by the ceramic industry, and the activator capable of producing appropriate mechanical properties of geopolymers. At the same time, as a way to improve the insulation, light aggregates will be developed through the expansion of clay and the addition of other by-products, with the purpose of reducing its density and, therefore, its thermal conductivity. The different percentages of addition of this material will create diverse insulation materials which will be subjected to the main tests of compressive strength, absorption coefficient and thermal conductivity, being able to determine the one with the best initial and service properties.
Therefore, once the materials and the relevant tests have been described, the methodology to be followed is more specifically detailed:
• Physical and chemical characterization of clay and the different by-products additives to conform the expansive aggregates.
• Study of the physical properties of the aggregates obtained and selection of the optimal conformation process.
• Physical and chemical characterization of the chamotte, the industrial by-product.
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New Trends in Green Construction