Composite Materials Based on Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Waste and Unsaturated Polyester Resin

This paper presents an experimental study on the potential use of new type of composite as insulation material. The composite material (AACW-UPR) was synthesised through mixture between the Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Waste (AACW) as filler and Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) as matrix. Several samples of the composite material with different UPR concentrations (50 and 70 vol. %) and different AACW particle size (0.2-1 mm, 1.5-2.5 mm, 3-6 mm) were prepared. The thermal behaviour and the water absorption capacity of the AACW-UPR composite materials were studied. Also, the influence of water absorption capacity on thermal resistance and thermal conductivity was studied. During the investigations we noticed the following: good chemical compatibility between the AACW particles and the UPR matrix; a decrease in thermal conductivity for samples with 50 vol.% UPR and inserted particles size between 3-6 mm and an increase in water absorption capacity with the increase in the filler content in the matrix. The increasing water absorption capacity determined a decrease in thermal resistance and a reduction of the composite features as insulating material.