UTILIZATION OF ALGERIAN VIRGIN CORK AND POLYSTYRENE AGGREGATES IN THE FORMULATION OF LIGHTWEIGHT MORTARS

Abstract

Concrete is the most produced and widely used construction material in the world due to its practicality and relatively low cost. However, one of the disadvantages of ordinary concrete is its highly self-weight. To reduce the self-weight of concrete, coarse aggregates are partially replaced with lightweight aggregates. This new material, known as lightweight concrete, has a low density, reduced self-weight, and high thermal insulation properties.

The main objective of this study is to explore the potential of using lightweight aggregates in the development of mortars. Two types of lightweight aggregates were used in this study: the first is natural (Algerian virgin cork), and the second is artificial (polystyrene).

Sand was replaced at different percentages (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) by cork and polystyrene aggregates to obtain lightweight mortars. The physical and mechanical characteristics (density, compressive strength, and bending strength) as well as thermal conductivity of these lightweight mortars were analyzed and compared to the reference mortar (without substitution).

The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of formulating lightweight mortars by incorporating Algerian virgin cork and polystyrene aggregates. However, to achieve acceptable bending and compressive strengths, the substitution of sand with cork and polystyrene aggregates should not exceed 20%. Thermal conductivity decreases with an increase in the proportion of Algerian virgin cork incorporated into the mortar.