Study on the properties and mechanisms of the glazed hollow bead thermal insulation mortar

Abstract With increasing concerns for energy conservation and environmental protection, research on glazed hollow bead thermal insulation mortar is of utmost importance. This type of mortar offers superior thermal insulation, leading to reduced energy consumption and emissions, in line with the current green building trends. This article aims to investigate the impact of varying component proportions on the parameters of thermal insulation mortar through an orthogonal experiment with four factors and three levels: glazed hollow bead, sepiolite, air-entraining agent, and cellulose ether. Additionally, a single-factor experiment is conducted to analyze the influence degree of water-solid ratio and these four factors. The experimental results are then verified through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) observation.The research findings indicate that glazed hollow beads have the most significant impact on thermal conductivity and compressive strength, while the air-entraining agent exerts the greatest influence on flexural strength. Specifically, when the content of glazed hollow bead is 2%, sepiolite 1%, air-entraining agent 0.6%, and cellulose ether 0.6%, the thermal conductivity can reach a minimum value of 0.0533W/(m·K). On the other hand, when the content of glazed hollow bead is 1%, sepiolite 2%, air-entraining agent 0.4%, and cellulose ether 0.6%, the compressive strength can achieve a maximum value of 2.4MPa.These findings provide a solid foundation for further exploration into improving the performance of thermal insulation mortar.