Production of an Air Incorporator Additive for Concretes Using the Castor Oil

Rodrigo M. S. Silva, Amanda L. M. S. Melo and Filipe S. Duarte

Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Alagoas, Brazil.

Abstract: The importance of developing efficient and sustainable alternatives to the high toxicity products in the civil construction market is one of the most relevant topics in Materials Science and Engineering worldwide. Within this reality are the additives for concrete and mortars, which despite being widely used products, are still produced without taking into consideration the environmental impacts that their substances cause to the environment. One type of additive that is increasingly in focus in the construction industry is the air incorporator to concretes additive type, used to produce the so-called “cellular concrete” that has the specific weight substantially reduced by the additive effect, generating great savings in works that use constructive systems with this type of concrete. The formulation used for the preparation of this type of additive by the industries present in the market is based on toxic materials that attack the environment, such as linear alkylbenzene and miscellaneous materials. Therefore, due to the high toxicity of these compositions, these products generate a high environmental impact when they come into contact with nature. From this reality, the present work proposes to elaborate a process for the development of a bioaddtive incorporating air based on castor oil (Ricinus communis L.), which was collected in the city of Arapiraca-AL, in northeastern Brazil. This process is described through the analysis of physical and chemical properties of the plant and experimental tests and dosages in order to analyze its quality in relation to the standards contained in the literature and thus contribute to the efficient, economical and sustainable evolution of civil construction.

Keywords: Sustainability, Concrete, Additives, Castor oil

Pages: 73 – 81 | Full PDF Paper