Polyurethane foam as aggregate for thermal insulating mortars and lightweight concrete

Abstract

The contribution describes the use of polyurethane foam after the end of its life cycle as an aggregate both for thermal insulating mortars for various wall surfaces and for lightweight concrete. The structure and the physical and mechanical properties of thermal insulating mortar are described here. The verification of application of thermal insulating polyurethane mortar in the thickness of 50 ÷ 70 mm to a reference building, where external walls were insulated, is provided further. The second important area dealt with in this contribution is that of lightweight concrete, for which polyurethane foam of grain size of 0,125 ÷ 6 mm is used as an aggregate. The physical and mechanical properties of polyurethane concrete of various densities and an example of its prefabrication are presented.