Mechanical Characterization of a New Lightweight Material for Nonstructural Components

The mechanical properties of a polyurethane-cement hybrid foam are reported in the paper. The hybrid foam, based on the conjunct use of Portland cement and rigid polyurethane foam, was introduced for applications in the building field. Property of acoustic and thermic insulation, water vapor permeability and the fire resistance were earlier investigated. Here, to evaluate the potential use of this new material in the building field for the seismic protection of nonstructural components, the results of compressive, tensile and shear tests, conducted according to ASTM standards, are reported. The compressive tests showed a brittle behavior of the hybrid foam. Moreover, the material exhibited larger strength in tension than in compression, with a significant strength decay at larger strains. The shear resistance values were similar to those of other materials, i.e. cellular concrete and brick, generally used for infills and internal partitions, usually considered as nonstructural components. Finally, a comparison between the physical and mechanical properties of the material herein studied and those of brick and cellular concrete is made to highlight that the lightweight features of the hybrid foam, associated to appreciable mechanical properties, could make it suitable for building nonstructural components, also in seismic zones.