Multi-scale study of high-strength low-thermal-conductivity cement composites containing cenospheres

Cenosphere particles are hollow, but due to their hard shells, they can be used in cementitious composites to produce ultra-lightweight cement composites (ULCC) with high strength and low thermal conductivity. This study integrates thermal conductivity with mechanical experimental research, microscopic investigation, and numerical simulations to provide new insights into the behavior of these advanced composites. The microstructure of ULCC samples was characterized using synchrotron high-resolution microtomography, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Composite models were used to predict the thermal conductivity of the cenospheres based on the experimental results of ULCC thermal conductivity and the porosity of the samples.