Changes in the strength properties and phase transition of gypsum modified with microspheres, aerogel and HEMC polymer

Abstract

The paper presents an assessment of the impact of using additives on the strength of a binding material, i.e., building gypsum, and also the phase transformation that takes place in it. Microspheres, aerogel and polymer (HEMC) additives were added to a building gypsum slurry with a water to gypsum ratio of 0.75. In order to investigate their influence on bending strength, compressive strength, and the effect of high temperatures, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as tests of the multicomponent binder, were carried out in accordance with the applicable PN-EN 13279-2:2005 standard. The obtained test results allowed to determine that the used additives influenced the strength parameters of the obtained composites. It was shown that the applied additives decreased the compressive and bending strength of the modified gypsum. Despite these properties, the obtained gypsum materials are environmentally friendly because they reuse wastes, such as microspheres. Out of all the applied additives, the use of microspheres in an amount of 10% caused a decrease in the bending strength by only 10%, and an increase in the compressive strength by 4%.