An experimental study to evaluate the effects of adding glazed hollow beads on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of concrete

This paper discusses the effects of glazed hollow bead particles on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of concrete and the micro appearances of the specimens through the scanning electron microscope. In the experiments, glazed hollow bead was added to the concrete to substitute sands. The amount of glazed hollow bead was kept at 5, 10, 15 and 20% by weight. The results show that the higher the glazed hollow bead amount, the higher will be the percentage of broken glazed hollow bead particles during the mixing process of concrete and that the addition of glazed hollow bead particles reduces the density, compressive strength, elasticity modulus and thermal conductivity coefficient of concrete. When the glazed hollow bead amount reaches 20%, the density, thermal conductivity coefficient, 56-day compressive strength and elasticity modulus of concrete decrease by 14, 69·5, 18·7 and 21·4%, respectively, compared with normal concrete.