Use of expanded polystyrene as aggregate in lightweight concrete: conceptualization, applications and survey of the state of the art

Abstract

Concrete is one of the most consumed materials in the world. However, the use of conventional aggregates added to the mixture is related to a series of environmental impacts resulting from the extraction of the raw material. The use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in the concrete dosages constitutes an effective way of guaranteeing greater lightness to the mixture, since it allows the economy of conventional aggregate. Although it is a relatively new composite material, lightweight concrete with expanded polystyrene has been studied in several universities around the world, mainly due to its low specific mass and thermal insulation capacity.

Keywords

• Compósito cimentício. Concreto leve. Poliestireno expandido.