A large-sample experimental study of wollastonite microfibers modified foamed concrete

To enhance the environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness of foamed concrete (FC), this study proposes the use of low-cost and low-energy-consumption wollastonite microfibers (WFs) as a supplementary substitute for cement in foamed concrete. A large-sample comparative experimental study was designed and implemented. The results indicate that by adjusting the foaming volume and improving the existing preparation process while considering the water demand of different solid raw materials, it is possible to produce foamed concrete that meets density requirements and maintains stable performance. Additionally, compared to the specification document GJ/T 341-2014 (Record No. J 1965-2015), which governs the application of foamed concrete, the preparation time for test samples was reduced, significantly improving the preparation efficiency of over 2,000 samples. Experimental results of WFs-modified foamed concrete show that, except for a few test groups, the difference in fluidity and stability between freshly mixed foamed slurry and pure cement samples of the same density grade does not exceed 10%. Variations in the WFs content do not markedly influence the distribution of pore sizes. When the WFs content is 20 wt.%, the thermal conductivity decreases by 13.5% compared to the pure cement sample (FC1300) of the same density grade, while the 28-day compressive strength increases slightly by 2.86%.