Lightweight Mortar Incorporating Expanded Perlite, Vermiculite, and Aerogel: A Study on the Thermal Behavior

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Construction
• Building Physics

Background:

• Climate change necessitates policy shifts in construction and urbanization to reduce environmental impact.
• The European Union aims for a 55% greenhouse gas reduction, with 50% of emissions linked to building thermal comfort.
• EU energy efficiency legislation drives innovation in building materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel mortars with enhanced thermal insulation properties.
• To investigate the potential of lightweight aggregates (aerogel, perlite, vermiculite) in improving mortar performance.
• To quantify the thermal benefits of these special mortars under simulated environmental conditions.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of special mortars incorporating varying proportions of aerogel, perlite, and vermiculite as lightweight aggregates.
• Characterization of the thermal properties of the developed mortars.
• Testing mortar performance using a solar simulator under both hot and cold environmental conditions.

Main Results:

• Mortars with lightweight aggregates demonstrated superior thermal insulation compared to a reference mortar.
• Insulation improvements reached up to 7 °C in warm conditions and 4.5 °C in cold conditions.
• The proportion of lightweight aggregates significantly influenced the thermal performance of the mortar.

Conclusions:

• Lightweight aggregates like aerogel, perlite, and vermiculite are effective in enhancing the thermal insulation of mortars.
• These improved mortars can contribute to reducing energy consumption for maintaining thermal comfort in buildings.
• The findings support the development of energy-efficient building materials aligned with climate change mitigation strategies.