Thermal properties of lightweight MKPC composites Available to Purchase

Magnesium based cement known for over than 150 years is a clinker-free binder with low environmental impact which is in contrast with widely used Portland cement. Its main advantage is fast setting, durability and high early strength accompanied by a strongly exothermic reaction, which makes the material applicable also at temperatures below zero. On the other hand, fast setting connected with workability restricts the material use on large-scale structures. Therefore it finds use in restoration works, repair of streets and pavements or retrofitting. Moreover, the high durability and chemical inertness allow apply material for encapsulation of hazardous waste. Nowadays effort to reduce the energy consumption of building stocks resulted in a design of new thermal insulation materials. The way how to scale up thermal insulation ability is to use alternative, highly porous aggregates as a replacement of commonly used silica sand. In this study, MKPC (magnesium potassium phosphate cement) was mixed with expanded glass granulate and waste tire rubber. For the hardened composites, structural and thermal properties were experimentally assessed. The results pointed to the considerable decrease in thermal conductivity when using lightweight filler. Additionally, thermal characteristics were observed for 50% and 100% water saturated samples. The obtained data evinced greatly reduced thermal insulation ability due to the moisture presence.