Ecofibers for the Reinforcement of Cement Mortars for Coating Promoting the Circular Economy

Carolina Piña Ramírez, Alejandra Vidales Barriguete, Julián García Muñoz, Mercedes del Río Merino and Patricia del Solar Serrano
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Carolina Piña Ramírez: Department of Architectural Constructions and their Control, Superior Technical School of Building, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Alejandra Vidales Barriguete: Department of Building Technology, Superior Technical School of Building, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Julián García Muñoz: Department of Architectural Constructions and their Control, Superior Technical School of Building, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Mercedes del Río Merino: Department of Architectural Constructions and their Control, Superior Technical School of Building, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Patricia del Solar Serrano: Department of Architectural Constructions and their Control, Superior Technical School of Building, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Nowadays, nobody can deny that climate change is a reality and that the life cycle of buildings contributes greatly to that reality. Therefore, proposals such as the circular economy must be integrated into the construction sector. This article shows part of the results of a research project whose objective is to introduce circular economy criteria in building materials, seeking new uses for construction and demolition waste from buildings. In particular, this article analyses the possibility of replacing fibres currently used to reinforce cement mortars with recycled fibres. After consulting the bibliography, we can conclude that some studies analyse the behaviour of cement mortars reinforced with different types of fibres, but none has been found that analyses the behaviour of these mortars for the application of continuous coatings. For this purpose, a two-stage experimental plan is designed to test cement mortar samples with different types of fibres, recycled fibres and commercial fibres, taking into consideration the characteristics that these mortars have to comply to be applied as continuous coatings. Moreover, a detailed study about the porosity of these mortars and its influence on how the mortars behave with regard to compression, water vapour permeability and impermeability has been conducted. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the mortars containing recycled fibres have very similar resistance, absorption and permeability values to those containing commercial fibres, so that they might be suitable for application as external coatings.

Keywords: mineral wool; cement mortar; recycling; circular economy; construction and demolition waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2835-:d:340664

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