The Effect of Polyamide Powder Waste in Mortar-Plaster Blends on Pore Structure and Its Influence on Water Vapor Permeability and Thermal Properties

Abstract

This study examines the effects of adding polyamide powder waste to mortar plaster blends, by determining the pore structure and water vapor permeability of hardened samples. Mortar plaster blends were prepared using different volumetric proportions of polyamide as test specimens. Their characteristics were defined and tested by fixing the consistency at a good level of workability and then determining the density. The porosity of the hardened mixes was studied by means of two complementary techniques: Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and X-ray Computerized Axial Tomography scan (TC) in order to define the influence on their water vapor permeability and thermal properties. The compatibility of the interface zone of materials was analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Our results show that an increase in the amount of polyamide affects the properties of the plaster, decreasing its density and porosity and increasing its permeability and its thermal resistance. These results confirm that mortar plasters produced with recycled polyamide are comparable to lightweight plasters made with traditional materials.