Vermiculite cement tiles for thermal insulation

Abstract

In the present study, thermal insulated tiles have been prepared by using exfoliated vermiculite as a filler material because of its low bulk density, high refractoriness, low thermal conductivity and adequate chemical inertness. The ordinary Portland cement of 43 grade was used as a binding material for vermiculite. Various mixes were prepared using different percentage of vermiculite and water cement ratio. In order to obtain desired consistency, polymer admixtures such as SBR latex and superplasticizer (1 wt% of cement) was added in the mixes at 0.15 polymer cement ratio. Based on the test results, an optimum formulation was worked out for the vermiculite cement tiles on the basis of wettability of vermiculite surface and its proportion, vermiculite cement ratio and polymer-cement ratio. The developed vermiculite cement tiles exhibited low water absorption, better strength properties and low thermal conductivity compared with the conventional clay tiles used for thermal insulation purpose.