Characterization properties and fire behaviour of cement blocks with recycled polyurethane roof wastes

Abstract

In accordance with the European politics of reducing the amount of polymers and plastics wastes, the inclusion of compounds such as roof wastes as recycled and reusable materials to replace variable amounts of aggregates is interesting in the production of new construction materials due to their physical and chemical behaviour. Prefabricated mortar blocks have made with Portland cement, sand, water and grinded roof polyurethane based wastes from the automobile industry that replace in different amounts part or all of the aggregates. To try to avoid the mechanical resistance limitation due to the use of roof wastes, the chemical properties of the binders have been modified with non-ionic surfactants that improve the effect on the hydration of the clinker. This variation produces an important change in the mechanical resistance to achieve recycled structural materials with a density between 18.7% and 62.7% lower compared to conventional lightweight mortars. In addition, these surfactants improve other properties including workability, compaction of the matrix, prevent the disintegration of the particles and help to improve the mechanical properties and durability against fire to reinforce the materials. These eco-mortars have a good behaviour against temperature of the final envelope, measured in terms of non-combustibility test. With these results, the use of roof wastes can be consider as a sustainable alternative to the materials currently used and then with them we can be able to contribute to a more ecological business model in the building sector. © 2022 The Authors