37º IAHS World Congress on Housing: - Universidad de Cantabria

XXXVII <strong>IAHS</strong><strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> on HousingOctober 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, SpainCODE: 143DURABILITY TEST ON LIGHTWEIGHT MORTARS ANDCONCRETE MADE WITH RECICLED POLYMER FOAMJ. Gadea, V. Calderón, A. Rodríguez, A. Martín, P. L. CamposDepartment of Construction Engineering, High Polytechnic SchoolUniversity of Burgos, Spain e-mail: vcalderon@ubu.esKey words: lightweight mortar, polyurethane, degradation, durability test.AbstractThe aim of this paper is to present the results of a durability test concerning the use of rigidpolyurethane foam wastes applied to cementitious mixtures to produce lightweight concrete.Concrete and mortars were obtained by mixing cement with different amounts ofpolyurethane, aggregate and water. Dosage has been varied to replace aggregates withrecycled polyurethane. Rigid polyurethane has been triturated in a 0/4 mm particle size beforebeing used as a substitute of aggregate. Samples have been characterized and tested in freshand hardened state. Variation in the amount of polyurethane was affecting mortar properties,decreasing the mortar density and its mechanical properties and increasing its workability andpermeability as well as the occluded air.Subsequently, durability test were carried out, including salt test, kesternich, heat and waterresistance, moisture, alkaline reactivity, U.V. and temperature resistance in order to classifythese materials. Surfaces have been observed by SEM with the objective of detect surfacechanges. Besides the used of traditional parameters for determinate durability (mechanicalstrength, weight, volume), we have measured before and after these aging tests the colordifferences with an spectrophotometer, in view of the fact that color could changes (polymerslike polyurethane used in construction’s materials are organic compounds that might suffersignificant changes of color).Results obtained confirm that composites produced with recycled polyurethane arecomparable to lightweight mortars made of traditional mixtures.37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 88