Durability of lightweight masonry mortars made with white recycled polyurethane foam

Masonry mortars made with Portland cement, sand, water and white recycled polyurethane foam from industrial waste are examined in this study. Different mixtures were firstly prepared through the substitution of different amounts of sand by equivalent volumes of polyurethane and then, with different ratios of cement/aggregates. The comparative study was carried out on the effect that different ageing tests have on the mechanical properties of these mortars under flexion and compression. For this purpose, the samples were exposed to different corrosion and hardness tests: resistance to dry heat, hot water, salt spray test and Kesternich testing. After ageing, a small reduction in compressive strength was observed. However, in all the samples, the strength values were sufficiently high to consider that these types of recycled materials remain practically unaffected when compared with the reference specimens. Finally, alkali-silica reaction tests were performed to determine the chemical stability of these mortars. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.