Development of new generation building material with heat-treated raw perlite

The most preferred application of perlite in the world is the use of perlite expanded at various temperatures in the insulation industry. This kind of use affects the input cost of the perlite products negatively compared to the other insulation materials. The aim of this study is, by heat-treating the raw perlite, to enable this unproductive mineral to reach the place it deserves within the category of industrial materials. In this study, 57.90 MPa compressive strength, 11,53 MPa bending strength, 1.90 g/cm3 unit weight, 2.42 g/ cm3 density, 0.15 % water absorption by mass and 20 mm abrasion resistance were obtained for the optimum design parameters considering axial compressive strength, workability and energy inputs for crude perlite-based products with 10% binder ratio and fired at 1175 ºC. Additionally, porosity and compactness ratio values of the obtained products were calculated as 21.38 and 78.62% respectively. The results of freeze-thaw tests demonstrated that the samples did not undergo any deformation and loss of compressive strength. In the experimental study, the morphologies and chemical compositions of the samples exposed to high temperature were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDS). Additionally, micro-structural characteristics of samples are exposed to high temperatures were analysed, using scanning electron microscope. With the characteristics briefed; a perlite-based, heat-treated, new generation building material, that could be used as flooring material in the construction industry, was obtained. However, the achieved results suggest that the characteristics of the obtained material are open to improvement. Keywords:, perlite, heat-treated, concrete, construction material