Enhancement of Perlite Concrete Properties containing Sustainable Materials by Incorporation of Hybrid Fibers

Abstract

Utilizing waste resources in concrete manufacturing, while employing alternative components and minimizing the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production, is a matter of great importance owing to several environmental and stability considerations. OPC is the fundamental component implemented in the conventional concrete production process. However, the OPC industry has raised environmental concerns since it produces mass amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). A more sustainable substance, utilizing metakaolin as pozzolanic material and local ash as a filler can serve as an OPC substitute, thereby reducing the CO2 release into the environment. This work examines the impact of incorporating sustainable recycled copper fibers as well as alkali resistance glass fibers on the properties of perlite structural lightweight aggregate concrete containing local, sustainable materials. The research includes slump, density, and thermal conductivity tests along with tests conducted during the 7, 28, and 60 days of curing for compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength. The concrete was reinforced with 1% hybrid fibers by volume. The results reveal that adding fibers to lightweight concrete reduces the slump and increases density and thermal conductivity, while it also increases the compressive, flexural, and split tensile strengths.