Thermomechanical Characterization of Enhanced Cement Mortar

Addressing environmental sustainability, particularly through reducing energy consumption, has become a global imperative. The construction sector is a major contributor to energy demand, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings. One such approach involves integrating thermal insulation solutions throughout the construction lifecycle. This research explores the development of thermally insulating cement mortars incorporating waste expanded polystyrene (PS) and expanded perlite (P). These composite materials were engineered to improve insulation performance for use in building applications. Comprehensive mechanical and thermal evaluations were conducted on the prepared mortars. The findings showed that increasing the content of polystyrene and perlite reduced both the strength and thermal properties of the materials. However, an optimal balance was achieved by incorporating 2.5% PS, which led to reductions of approximately 37% in thermal conductivity, 15% in thermal diffusivity (THD), and 26% in volumetric heat capacity (VHC) compared to standard mortar, without severely compromising mechanical integrity. This indicates that such composites offer a promising solution for energy-efficient construction.