Rheological and physic-mechanical properties of self-compacting mortars based on granulated foam glass

Abstract

The foam glass is currently used in the manufacture of concretes as granulates to produce lightweight concrete. In this respect, this study aims to use foam glass granulates with open-porosity to produce lightweight self-compacting mortars. GFG were prepared from the glass powder (glass cullet) and foaming agent (limestone) according to current applied process for GFG (at a heat treatment 850 °C during 20min). Then they suffered preparation processes as sand, namely crushing and sieving (0-5mm). After, self-compacting mortars were elaborated with natural fine aggregate (sand) and other mortars with granulated foam glass by sand substitution at volume ratios (0, 30, 50 and 100 %). Rheological characterization tests (fluidity) and physic-mechanical (density, porosity /absorption of water and mechanical tests) were carried out on studied mortars. The results obtained show that open-porosity of GFG-sand, has favored adhesion with cementitious matrix without having the segregation of mortar phases. Also, a decrease in the compressive strength was observed for mortars exhibiting a specific lightness. It should be noted that this latter characteristic is very important in construction especially insulation materials