Properties of lightweight concrete composed of magnesia phosphate cement and expanded polystyrene aggregates

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) concrete is a lightweight concrete with better deformation capacity, but lower strength than conventional concrete. Its application for structural components was limited due to inadequate strength. The present study aims to develop a class of structural grade EPS concrete by replacing Portland cement with magnesia phosphate cement (MPC). The resulting MPC-EPS concrete had a density ranging from 750 to 1,800 kg/m(3). Extensive laboratory tests were performed to characterize the strength, drying shrinkage and water absorption properties of the MPC-EPS concrete. The test results showed that the MPC-EPS concrete had a higher early-age strength than the typical EPS concrete, and the rate of strength gain increased with increasing EPS contents. The drying shrinkage potential and water absorption of the MPC-EPS concrete were much lower than those of the typical EPS concrete, indicating that the MPC-EPS concrete could be a building material with high thermal-resistance and good durability.