Abstract This paper examined how the addition of silica aerogel would impact the performance of lightweight concrete made using Bayburt stone (volcanic tuff) aggregate in insulation. A silica-based gel material was produced by the synthesis of Bayburt stone by the sol-gel process and then added to lightweight concrete mixtures prepared by Taguchi L8 experimental matrix. Signal-to-noise ratios and ANOVA were used to determine factors’ contribution within the chosen design space by analysing the effects of aerogel ratio, cement dosage and water to cement ratio, on unit weight, thermal conductivity, ultrasonic pulse velocity and compressive strength. The findings revealed that the higher the content of aerogel, the lower the unit weight and thermal conductivity by up to 46 per cent at the expense of the reference mixture, which signified better thermal insulation. The porosity percentage of the tested mixtures rose to 31.48%, and compressive strength dropped with the increase in the content of aerogel. Thermogravimetric data indicated that mixtures with aerogel experienced lower total mass loss, but these data are not taken as evidence of long-term stability at all, but only as the differences in thermal degradation behaviour during the test range. The combination of volcanic tuff aggregate and silica-based incorporation of aerogel can be a prospective approach to non-structural lightweight concrete use within the constraints of the current experimental programme, where the minimisation of density and thermal conductivity should be prioritised. The implications related to economics and sustainability are addressed qualitatively.
Can et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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