Thermal Behaviour of Hydrofugated Plaster Block Masonry with Variation of Coating Thickness

The objective of this research is to analyze the influence of ceramic coating, simulating the external side, and plaster with different thicknesses, simulating the internal side of a prototype of solid water-repellent gypsum block masonry, aiming to improve the thermal performance mainly in the settlement joints of the block. For this purpose, two specific test methods were used: thermal camera and infrared thermography. The temperature differences between the internal and external faces were analyzed by means of thermocouples connected in the middle of the prototype and the mapping of the temperature profile on the surface of the cladding. It was found that the addition of gypsum sheathing plus ceramic improves the thermal performance of the masonry system, observing that the variation of the thickness of the gypsum mortar provides a gain in thermal resistance, a reduction in thermal transmittance and an increase in thermal capacity.