Thermal performance of alkali-activated cement board manufactured from waste porcelain tiles

Abstract

Considering that alkali-activated cement can show better thermophysical properties than concrete, the authors aimed to analyze the thermal performance of alkali-activated cement board (PCAA), produced from porcelain tile waste. Its thermal proprieties were measured in the samples. Besides, a termoenergetic performance of a Light Steel Framing natural ventilated house was emulated through Energy Plus under eight Brazilian bioclimatic zones. A Portland cement panel (PCP) results was also considered for statistical comparative analysis. PCAAs showed lower values of bulk density and solar absorptivity. On the other hand, PCPs showed slightly better thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity values. Despite providing a greater thermal comfort hour under cold climates, PCP's comfort hours were less than 45% of the total period. Under other climates, PCAAs presented better results. The employment of white paint on plates, under the hottest climates, increased by up to 7 and 9% of the comfortable hours’ percentage provided by PCAA and PCP, respectively. The differences between the comfort hours provided by the plates in each climate were significant since the p-value of statistical analysis <0.05, confirming, indeed, the computer simulation results. Likewise, different healing processes of PCAAs may also have influenced the amount of comfort hours provided by each type of plate. In short, the production of new fence materials can therefore become viable as a constructive option under some climatic conditions.