Thermal and mechanical properties of lightweight concrete with waste copper slag as fine aggregate

Abstract

The article presents the results of investigation of mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight concrete with waste copper slag as fine aggregate. The obtained results were compared with the results of concrete of the same composition in which natural fine aggregate (river sand) was used. The thermal properties tests carried out with the ISOMET 2114 device included determination of the following values: thermal conductivity coefficient, thermal volume capacity and thermal diffusivity. After determining the material density, the specific heat values were also calculated. The thermal parameters were determined in two states of water saturation: on fully saturated material and dried to constant mass at 65°C. Compressive strength, open porosity and bulk density are given as supplementary values. The results of the conducted research indicate that replacing sand with waste copper slag allows to obtain concrete of higher ecological values, with similar mechanical parameters and allowing to obtain significant energy savings in functioning of cubature structures made of it, due to a significantly lower value of thermal conductivity coefficient.

Keywords

• lightweight concrete
• waste copper slag
• thermal properties
• sustainable building materials