PROPERTIES OF NEW CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL BASED ON EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE DERIVED FROM RECYCLING

References: 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2017, www.sgemviennagreen.org, SGEM2017 Vienna GREEN Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-619-7408-29-4 / ISSN 1314-2704, 27 - 29 November, 2017, Vol. 17, Issue 63, 619-626 pp; DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017H/63/S26.078

ABSTRACT

The paper describes the possible applications of expanded polystyrene (EPS) granulate derived from recycling for the production of prefabricated building units. Test results of a new material called Polytech and its application in the construction industry are presented. Polytech construction system is based on prefabricated large-panel units. An important advantage of the new material is the volume representation of EPS granulate, which reaches up to 60%. So far — in order to keep the proper strength of the manufactured structures lightweight concretes containing up to 40% of EPS were used. Increasing the EPS volume in a mixture containing modified cement mortar increases the thermal insulation of the material and, at the same time, reduces the strength of Polytech units. This had been confirmed during the tests conducted by UT Bydgoszcz, which revealed that more favorable strength parameters can be obtained by decreasing the volume representation of EPS granulate in favor of cement mortar. The use of reinforcement dedicated to Polytech elements was suggested to improve the strength of these units. The higher volume representation of EPS granulate enables effective waste management and allows to decrease in the use of natural aggregate in the mixture. This, in turn, contributes to more effective environmental protection and lower carbon dioxide emission.

Keywords: prefabricated buildings material waste, recycled, ground polystyrene.