Effect of various curing methods and addition of silica aerogel on mortar properties

Abstract

Mechanical and thermal properties and porosity of aerogel-incorporated mortars exposed to various curing conditions (curing by wetting-drying, curing by magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), and water curing) are experimentally investigated in this study. Maximum compressive strengths at 0.5 % aerogel content under the effects of wetting-drying and MgSO4 curing conditions amounted to 60.8 MPa and 44.3 MPa, respectively. In addition, compared to the other curing methods, the gel pores formation in mortars exposed to MgSO4 effects increased with an increase in aerogel content.