Production of Lightweight Concrete by Using Polystyrene (cork) waste

Abstract

There are two important subjects in the local and global areas, the first is the environmental pollution and the second is economic advantages of recycling and reusing of industrial materials. One of the most important industrial materials is cork waste. Because of many good properties of cork, like compressibility and a good ability to mould according to human needs, this material become as an important material in several life categories. This research work includes production of new type of light weight concrete and studies the mechanical and thermal properties. Several proportions of raw materials were used to produce this type of concrete. This study is intended to produce light weight concrete with low thermal conductivity so that it can be used for concrete masonry units. Polystyrene aggregate was added as percentages by weight of cement to improve the thermal properties of this type of concrete. Mechanical, and thermal tests with difference ages were made in this work. For polystyrene concrete with polystyrene cement ratio (p/c) of (2.67 - 6)%, the 28-day compressive strength range is from (4.31 - 2.67)MPa, flexural strength range is from (3.05-1.719) MPa, density range is from (1493-1213) kg/m3, and thermal conductivity range is from (0.91-0.782)% as a percentage by that of reference mix. The study show suitability of this type of concrete to be used in concrete masonry units of non-bearing walls.