Materiales sosteniblesrefugo de corcho como árido ligero en piezas de hormigón para fábrica de albañilería

Abstract

The environmental degradation requires a deep reorientation of production and consumption patterns in the productive and economic sectors. Regarding building materials, there is a tendency to minimize the effects produced on the environment, i.e. on energy consumption, production of waste and pollution. Cork waste as granulated refuse appears as an alternative raw material for building materials. It is a renewable natural resource, with an internal structure that could allow to make light and thermal insulating materials. The goal of this research was to study the feasibility of granulated cork refuse to be used as lightweight aggregate. In this way, several pieces of concrete have been prepared with different percentages of natural aggregate substitution by granulated cork refuse. Their mechanical properties have been evaluated. Then the elaborated concrete pieces characterization has been carried out to determine their physical and mechanical properties. Furthermore the interface of the cork refuse with concrete paste has been evaluated through its microstructure. The durability of the concrete under extreme conditions of temperature and humidity has been also examined. According to the results, it is possible to obtain light concrete by the substitution of a natural aggregates percentage by granulated cork refuse. The amount of the cork refuse in concrete strongly influences this material properties.