Investigating lightweight foamed concrete prepared using selected brands of detergent and cement grades

Abstract

Foamed concrete, a lightweight, cement slurry-based cellular material, presents a promising solution to economic and environmental challenges in the construction industry. Its versatility spans from structural applications to thermal insulation and soundproofing, offering benefits such as low density, energy efficiency, and affordability. The study explored the feasibility of using locally sourced materials, specifically by utilizing three different powder detergents (K, M, and S) as foaming agents. These detergents were evaluated for their composition, density, and stability and then combined with two cement grades 32.5R and 42.5R. A total of 12 sample foamed concrete groups were manufactured and checked for compressive strength, density, and water absorption. The results demonstrated that all detergents in specific formulations successfully produced foamed concrete that met or exceeded the ASTM requirements of 1.4 MPa. Samples from Detergent K achieved a dry density range of 1.32–1.539 g/cm³ with 28-day compressive strength ranges of 0.64–14.25 MPa. Samples from Detergent M produced dry densities in the range of 1.255–1.559 g/cm³ with a compressive strength range of 0.41–12.26 MPa and those from Detergent S produced dry density range of 1.061–1.394 g/cm³ with compressive strength range of 1.03–7. 75 MPa. Notably, there were correlations between the detergent's pH, the relevant oxide quantities and the foam's density and stability which together influenced the overall performance of the foamed concrete.