Influence of the addition of rubber fibers from end-of-life tires on plaster mortars. Study of mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties

Abstract

In this paper, results about an experimental study performed

on plaster compounds with the incorporation of rubber in the

form of fibers from end of life tires are reported and analyzed.

Test samples of plaster are prepared adding different volumetric

fractions of rubber fibers that had been previously classified

into two different sizes. The same consistency is fixed for every

compound studied. Physical and mechanical properties are

analyzed. Thermal behavior is also studied comparing thermal

conductivity values and relating them with the bulk density of

the resulting material.

The results show an improvement in the thermal behavior

proportional to the reduction of the density and the mechanical

properties, as the proportion of rubber increases. It is also

observed that there are no significant differences depending

on the size of the fibers. These results confirm that the

new material obtained is comparable to other materials of

lightweight plaster with improved thermal properties and

therefore with the same possibilities of use as these materials.

The new material could be used for slabs and compression

layers in building rehabilitation