Production of Foam Concrete with Hasankale Pumice and Expanded Micronized Perlite

Abstract In this study, the mechanical and physical properties of foam concrete, a type of lightweight concrete, were investigated. For this purpose, cement, pumice, expanded micronized perlite aggregates and foaming agent were used for foam concrete production. A total of 4 different concrete mixes were produced. In all 4 groups, the amount of foaming agent was kept constant. In the first group, cement, water and foaming agent were used. In the second group, cement, water, pumice and foaming agent were used. In the third group, cement, water, perlite and foaming agent were used. In the last group, cement, water, pumice, perlite and foaming agent were used. Density, compressive and flexural tests were performed on the produced samples. The unit weight of the fresh concrete mixtures was measured. After 28 days of curing under laboratory conditions, compressive and flexural strength tests were performed on the samples. As a result of the unit volume weight test, foam concrete samples between 720 kg/m3 and 1400 kg/m3 were produced. The lowest unit volume weight was obtained in the samples produced with perlite and the highest unit volume weight was obtained in the samples where pumice and perlite aggregates were used together. As a result of the 28-day compressive strength test, the lowest value was obtained in the mixture containing perlite with 6,33 MPa and the highest value was obtained in the normal foam concrete mixture without aggregates with 12,47 MPa. This is due to the fact that the compressive strength of cement is higher than the other aggregates. As a result of the 28-day flexural strength test, the lowest value was obtained with 2,04 MPa in the mixture where pumice and perlite were used together and the highest value was obtained with 3,0 MPa in the mixture containing pumice. As a result, the use of pumice and expanded perlite aggregates in foam concrete is used for a structure that is both lighter and has better thermal insulation properties rather than improving the mechanical properties of foam concrete. Keywords: Foam Concrete; Pumice; Expanded Micronized Perlite; Compressive and Flexural Strength