Use of Magnetite Derived from Acid Mine Drainage in the Stabilization of Foam for Foamed Mortar

Richard Thomas Lermen (), Matheus Alexandre Pfluck, Thaís Letícia Pilotto, Elen Cristina Faustino Boff Fernandes, Alcindo Neckel, Rodrigo de Almeida Silva () and Claudete Gindri Ramos
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Richard Thomas Lermen: Postgraduate Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Educação, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, Brazil
Matheus Alexandre Pfluck: Postgraduate Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Educação, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, Brazil
Thaís Letícia Pilotto: Postgraduate Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Educação, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, Brazil
Elen Cristina Faustino Boff Fernandes: Postgraduate Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Educação, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, Brazil
Alcindo Neckel: Postgraduate Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Educação, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, Brazil
Rodrigo de Almeida Silva: Postgraduate Program of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ATITUS Educação, Passo Fundo 99070-220, RS, Brazil
Claudete Gindri Ramos: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Calle 58 # 55–66, Barranquilla 080002, Atlántico, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Foam stabilization plays a critical role in the production of foamed mortar, a material widely applied in civil construction due to its thermal insulation and lightweight structural benefits. This study investigates the use of magnetite derived from acid mine drainage (AMD) as a sustainable foam-stabilizing agent. Magnetite’s magnetic properties enhance foam stability by improving air bubble distribution within the mortar. A total of 30 different mixtures were produced, varying the sand-to-cement ratio, type of cement and magnetite content. The compressive strength and tensile flexural strength of the foamed mortars ranged from 0.62 ± 0.04 MPa to 7.33 ± 0.30 MPa and from 0.44 ± 0.12 MPa to 2.82 ± 0.16 MPa, respectively; porosity ranged from 31.8% ± 1.86 to 75.6% ± 2.2; dry and wet bulk density ranged from 423 ± 23 kg.m −3 to 1576 ± 96 kg.m −3 and from 615 ± 9 kg.m −3 to 1828 ± 122 kg.m −3 , respectively; water absorption ranged from 8.9% ± 0.9 to 45.8% ± 10.6; and thermal conductivity ranged from 0.54 ± 0.03 W·m −1 ·K −1 to 0.17 ± 0.03 W·m −1 ·K −1 . Results demonstrated that increasing magnetite content led to greater foam stability and porosity but decreased mechanical strength and density. The sand-to-cement ratio significantly affected all measured properties, while the type of cement had minimal influence. These findings suggest that AMD-derived magnetite is a promising additive for optimizing the performance of lightweight, sustainable foamed mortars.

Keywords: magnetite; acid mine drainage; foam stabilization; foamed mortar; mortar properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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