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/m3. 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.