FunPERL - Overflatebelagt ekspandert perlitt som lettvekt fyllstoff i mørtel- og sementformuleringer

The construction industry is very much exposed to competition and is facing big challenges on productivity limited by high water uptake, extended drying periods and high density of mortar and cement applications. Therefore, this business sector demands in novative mortar and cement formulations with low density, high material strength and low water uptake resulting in competitive advantage. Lightweight filler like expanded perlite can significantly increase the productivity for mortars in construction indu stry and can thereby solve a big problem in the construction industry. Moreover the water-repellent surface of expanded perlite minimizes the water uptake in mortar formulations and increases the water release during drying. Surface modification of expand ed perlite with a new class of glassy like polymers has been developed at SINTEF Materials and Chemistry in Norway. They provide low water uptake through a stable and long-term water-repellent perlite surface and at the same time a sufficient anchoring be tween expanded perlite filler and mortar matrix. Good anchoring of FunPERL in the mortar matrix qualifies for high compression strength and requested mortar specifications. There is a strong need to get FunPERL commercially available. There are not exist ing any companies able to industrialize and to introduce such an innovation concept to the marked by today. The verification project FunPERL (FunPERL - Surface modified expanded perlite as lightweight filler in mortar and cement formulations) is partly fu nded by RCN and is aiming to verify and commercialize FunPERL technology as an industrial product. SINVENT has long and profound experience on commercialization of new technologies through establishment of new companies and is working together with SINTE F Materials and Chemistry in order to verify FunPERL. Important key customers are involved in this verification project.