Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration
Abstract This comprehensive study investigates the development of lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties by strategically incorporating nano-silica (NS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) granules. This research aims to design a high-performance concrete composit...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11354-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849333506029649920 |
|---|---|
| author | Sabry A. Ahmed Esraa Ebrahem Ahmed A. M. El-Amir M. S. El-Feky |
| author_facet | Sabry A. Ahmed Esraa Ebrahem Ahmed A. M. El-Amir M. S. El-Feky |
| author_sort | Sabry A. Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This comprehensive study investigates the development of lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties by strategically incorporating nano-silica (NS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) granules. This research aims to design a high-performance concrete composite that can achieve superior thermal insulation, improved water permeability, and maintain structural integrity. NS was strategically incorporated at varying dosages of 0.75, 1, and 1.25% by weight of cement, while EPS was used to replace fine aggregates at 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacement levels. The thermal performance of the concrete mixtures was systematically evaluated using the advanced transient plane source method, providing insights into thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and volumetric heat capacity. The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of NS led to a significant 15% reduction in thermal conductivity, attributed to the filler effect and pozzolanic reactivity of nano-silica. The incorporation of EPS granules exhibited an even more pronounced impact, decreasing the thermal conductivity of concrete by up to 80.5% as the replacement level increased. Notably, the combined use of NS and EPS resulted in a synergistic effect, achieving a remarkable 39–86% reduction in thermal conductivity, 28–71%, and 28–79% reductions in thermal effusivity and diffusivity, respectively, compared to the control mix. Furthermore, the optimal NS content of 1–1.25% was found to enhance the compressive strength by up to 36.5% and reduce the water permeability by 40–52%, indicating improved mechanical and durability properties. These findings highlight the transformative potential of this composite material in developing high-performance, thermally-efficient, and sustainable concrete for energy-efficient buildings, reducing operational energy demands and carbon footprints. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab614c30bde04fdeb0b0ebd2e6fc2b52 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab614c30bde04fdeb0b0ebd2e6fc2b522025-08-20T03:45:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-11354-7Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integrationSabry A. Ahmed0Esraa Ebrahem1Ahmed A. M. El-Amir2M. S. El-Feky3Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig UniversityZagazig UniversityRefractory and Ceramic Materials Department, Central Metallurgical Research and Development InstituteDepartment of Civil Engineering, National Research CentreAbstract This comprehensive study investigates the development of lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties by strategically incorporating nano-silica (NS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) granules. This research aims to design a high-performance concrete composite that can achieve superior thermal insulation, improved water permeability, and maintain structural integrity. NS was strategically incorporated at varying dosages of 0.75, 1, and 1.25% by weight of cement, while EPS was used to replace fine aggregates at 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacement levels. The thermal performance of the concrete mixtures was systematically evaluated using the advanced transient plane source method, providing insights into thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and volumetric heat capacity. The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of NS led to a significant 15% reduction in thermal conductivity, attributed to the filler effect and pozzolanic reactivity of nano-silica. The incorporation of EPS granules exhibited an even more pronounced impact, decreasing the thermal conductivity of concrete by up to 80.5% as the replacement level increased. Notably, the combined use of NS and EPS resulted in a synergistic effect, achieving a remarkable 39–86% reduction in thermal conductivity, 28–71%, and 28–79% reductions in thermal effusivity and diffusivity, respectively, compared to the control mix. Furthermore, the optimal NS content of 1–1.25% was found to enhance the compressive strength by up to 36.5% and reduce the water permeability by 40–52%, indicating improved mechanical and durability properties. These findings highlight the transformative potential of this composite material in developing high-performance, thermally-efficient, and sustainable concrete for energy-efficient buildings, reducing operational energy demands and carbon footprints.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11354-7Lightweight structural concreteNano-silicaExpanded polystyrene (EPS)Thermal conductivityWater permeabilitySustainable building materials |
| spellingShingle | Sabry A. Ahmed Esraa Ebrahem Ahmed A. M. El-Amir M. S. El-Feky Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration Scientific Reports Lightweight structural concrete Nano-silica Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Thermal conductivity Water permeability Sustainable building materials |
| title | Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration |
| title_full | Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration |
| title_fullStr | Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration |
| title_short | Developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano-silica and expanded polystyrene integration |
| title_sort | developing lightweight structural concrete with enhanced thermal and durability properties through nano silica and expanded polystyrene integration |
| topic | Lightweight structural concrete Nano-silica Expanded polystyrene (EPS) Thermal conductivity Water permeability Sustainable building materials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11354-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sabryaahmed developinglightweightstructuralconcretewithenhancedthermalanddurabilitypropertiesthroughnanosilicaandexpandedpolystyreneintegration AT esraaebrahem developinglightweightstructuralconcretewithenhancedthermalanddurabilitypropertiesthroughnanosilicaandexpandedpolystyreneintegration AT ahmedamelamir developinglightweightstructuralconcretewithenhancedthermalanddurabilitypropertiesthroughnanosilicaandexpandedpolystyreneintegration AT mselfeky developinglightweightstructuralconcretewithenhancedthermalanddurabilitypropertiesthroughnanosilicaandexpandedpolystyreneintegration |