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Introduction
Styrofoam is an important part of the modern economy. It's a very versatile product, used
for cups, plates, and even some interior decorating items. Another very popular use is that of
packing material. Packing Styrofoam comes in either loose form, or as "peanuts." As consumers,
we use this product every day. However one has to understand that the utility of Styrofoam
extends greatly from the common household purposes which we commonly attribute this product
to. Architects often use Styrofoam in concrete form because it has air pockets that make it
excellent as an insulator. In roofs and slabs, it works as lightweight and durable panels that
prevent the elements from entering the interior. Whether its cold or heat, Styrofoam is an
excellent source of insulating material. Even as an insulator of noise, this product is unsurpassed.
Builders often use Styrofoam when creating a home theater areas or recording studios.
Over the years, Styrofoam has managed to find its way into a growing number of
industries as people become more familiar with its versatility and convenience. Architects,
builders, home remodelers, and even homeowners use it for a wide variety of products and for
many reasons. The shipping industry also makes good use of it to protect fragile items, or to
prevent packaged items from moving around in the box. Moreover, Styrofoams are also gaining
popularity in the recycling industry. A lot of investigations have been successfully done
indicating the use of Styrofoams as an additive material to organic products like oyster shells in
more avenues at which it can still be placed into good use. The researchers of this paper then
thought of using the material as an additive ingredient to the production of concrete tiles and
compare the finished product to the usual concrete tiles made without the addition of Styrofoam
bits. The researchers also want to take into consideration the differing preferences of users when
it comes to the characteristics of products such as density, thermal conductivity, or even texture.
Thus, in this paper, they also intended to compare the characteristics of concrete walls using
tiles using Styrofoam as an additive ingredient and the extent at which the characteristics of the
products change if it were to be Styrofoam dissolved in gasoline is used. Such action extends to
possible improvement of the characteristics of Styrofoam which has been proven to be great use
in both households and industries. The possible changes on the basic characteristics of Styrofoam
upon addition of limonene will enable prospective users to come up with a wider array of
The research shall deal with the determination of the feasibility of making concrete tiles
using pure Styrofoam and Styrofoam dissolved in gasoline as additive ingredients. The
characteristics of the produced concrete walls shall also be determined and compared.
Characteristics that shall be determined include the products color, density, texture, durability,
and thermal conductivity. Concrete tiles without the addition of Styrofoam will be used as the
controlled set-up while the two set-ups with both pure Styrofoam and the ones dissolved in
1. Determine the characteristics of concrete tiles in terms of its color, texture, durability,
2. Determine the characteristics of concrete tiles in terms of its color, texture, durability,
density, and thermal conductivity with pure Styrofoam and Styrofoam dissolved in
3. Compare the characteristics of all concrete tiles with and without additive ingredients in
With the promise that Styrofoam holds in the recycling industry comes the enthusiasm to
further investigate on what other avenues can it be useful. Considering the insulating property of
the said material, the researchers thought that it would be ground breaking to determine the
feasibility of using the material as an additive ingredient to the production of concrete tiles.
Moreover, the researchers also take into consideration the differing preferences of costumers
when it comes to satisfaction. People would always want the best. But getting the best is relative.
Thus, by determining the extents at which the characteristics of concrete tiles with Styrofoam be
changed when gasoline is introduced we also open up possibilities on how to best improve
products to suit the needs of customers. By coming up with an information on the changes that
gasoline can make to the concrete tiles, prospect users are now given a wider array of Styrofoam
Styrofoam and the users of it as well. Moreover, this research shall become a baseline to future
related investigations on the improvement on the characteristics of raw materials other than the
In general, the focus of this study is directed towards two things determination of the
feasibility of using Styrofoam as an additive ingredient to the production concrete tiles and the
comparison of the characteristics of concrete tiles with pure Styrofoam and Styrofoam dissolved
in gasoline are used as additive ingredients. The method used in the production of concrete tiles
is based on the procedure given by a mason interviewed by the researchers themselves. As to the
amount of Styrofoam added, it shall be proportioned to the amount of sand to be added when the
control group was made. Moreover, determination and comparison of characteristics shall extend
to the samples color, density, texture, durability, and thermal conductivity. Dissolution shall be
done through the use of gasoline, a hydrocarbon proven to dissolve polysterene. Determination
of the mentioned characteristics shall be done in two ways laboratory activity and survey. The
former will be used to determine the density, durability, and thermal conductivity of the samples.
A 30-respondent survey will be utilized to determine the color and texture of both samples.
G. Operational Definition of Terms
Investigation.
Durability a measure on the maximum magnitude of force the samples