The The properties of EPS mortar materials produced by hot mixing process

Abstract

The current situation with foam waste is on an upward trend due to increased usage, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to an accumulation of foam waste. This has caused significant environmental and human health impacts. Consequently, recycling foam has become an environmentally friendly method for foam waste disposal. This study explores recycling foam waste using a thermal melting process, using 180°C vegetable oil as a conductor. The melted foam was then combined with sand at foam-to-sand mass ratios of 17%, 21%, 25%, 29%, 33%, 38%, 42%, 46%, and 50% and the samples were left to set for 28 days. The resulting samples were tested for density, flexural strength, compressive strength, and 24-hour water absorption. The results showed that density and water absorption decreased as the foam content increased. At a 50% foam ratio, the density was 1,393 kilograms per cubic meter, and the 24-hour water absorption rate was 1.98%. Conversely, flexural strength increased with higher foam content, reaching 32.45 kilograms per square meter at a 50% foam ratio. The highest compressive strength was observed at a 46% foam ratio, measuring 120 kilograms per square meter. These results suggest that the foam-sand composite exhibits properties similar to traditional clay bricks and even exceeds those of lightweight concrete blocks, indicating its potential as a viable alternative in future waste recycling efforts for sustainable construction materials.