Characterisation and Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Hollow Concrete Blocks Made from a Cement-glass Powder Mixture

Abstract

The construction industry faces the need to develop more sustainable and energy-efficient materials. One solution being considered is the recycling of glass waste in powder form for incorporation into building materials. This study aims to determine the thermal properties and experimentally evaluate the thermal performance of hollow cement blocks incorporating glass powder. The main objective is to examine the influence of glass powder incorporation on the thermal properties of the material and on its ability to improve the heat-transfer performance of building materials. The samples were manufactured under real industrial conditions to ensure that the results were representative. Glass powder was incorporated into the block formulation at levels of 0%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The thermal properties were determined using the KD2-Pro instrument. The results show that adding glass powder can reduce the material’s thermal conductivity while utilising industrial waste, thereby contributing to the development of more sustainable and energy-efficient building materials. For a 10% incorporation rate, the thermal conductivity ranges from 0.701 to 0.743 W/m·K, while at 20% glass powder, it ranges from 0.504 to 0.555 W/m·K. The measured thermal capacities are 1374.76 J/kg·K and 2103.19 J/kg·K for the formulations containing 10% and 20% glass powder, respectively. The experimental study of thermal behaviour reveals that the concrete block incorporating 20% glass powder exhibits the greatest temperature difference between its external and internal surfaces, namely 9.79 °C. This result reflects a greater capacity for heat storage, indicating higher thermal inertia compared with the other formulations. The incorporation of glass powder into hollow cement breeze blocks therefore represents a viable alternative for developing more sustainable building materials that are better suited to climatic conditions.