Evaluation of mechanical properties and shielding effectiveness in mortar composites reinforced with waste aluminum alloy perforated sheets

This study explored the possibility of recycling aluminum waste scrap, an industrial byproduct resulting from the increasing production of capacitors, a vital component in the modern electronics industry, as a reinforcement material for buildings without the need for re-melting and forming process. To achieve this, an aluminum alloy perforated sheet (ALS) was developed that preserves the form of aluminum scrap and is coated with copper. ALS has the potential to be used as a reinforcing and electromagnetic wave-shielding material for building structures while suppressing the increase in self-weight. Therefore, in this study, ALS was reinforced in a highly homogeneous mortar and experimentally evaluated to determine whether it could improve the mechanical properties and electromagnetic shielding performance of the structures. Static compressive, tensile, and flexural strength tests were conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of the specimens reinforced with ALS, and electromagnetic shielding measurements were performed through waveguide tests. Among them, the tensile performance of the ALS-reinforced specimens increased to 229% in strain with a strength increase of up to 2.6 times, and the electromagnetic shielding effect was improved by 3.6 times. These results show that ALS can improve the mechanical properties and electromagnetic shielding performance of mortar specimens. In addition, based on the experimental results, this study evaluates the possibility of using ALS as a reinforcing material and discusses its applications in building systems.