Development of sustainable engineered stone cladding for toughness, durability, and energy conservation

This study aims to investigate the techniques of manufacturing an improved engineered stone for better toughness, ductility, durability, and thermal resistance. The new artificial stone consists of two layers. The face layer is made strong, durable, colored, and smooth/or textured for natural look, while the back layer is light, high impact resistance, and low heat conductivity for better insulation and energy cost. The back layer utilizes recycled crumb rubber, which provides a combined solution for energy saving and environmental concerns. It reduces the material unit weight, enhances ductility and toughness, and improves thermal resistance. The stone's properties such as compressive strength, thermal conductivity, durability, impact resistance and water absorption were experimentally measured and compared with natural stone specimens. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.