Strategic progress in foam stabilisation towards high-performance foam concrete for building sustainability: A state-of-the-art review

Lightweight, high energy reservation and excellent functional performance are the main benefits of cellular concrete. Its properties mainly depends on the pore characteristics, governed by different factors. With an attempt to further expand the current body of knowledge in the field of lightweight concrete, this review paper presents state-of-the-art techniques in foam stabilisation for maximising the performance of foam concrete. The kinetics of foam degradation, current progress, trending applications in building and construction sectors, as well as potential challenges encountered in developing foam concrete were also elaborated. Overall, the current state of strategies for high foam stability involves the optimal selection of binder combination, aggregate substitution, internal reinforcement, curing regime, treatment methods, gas-liquid interface modified by nanomaterials, polymer chains and surfactant monomers. The breakthrough in current 3D printable foam concrete technology and the main challenges with mixing protocols, long-term durability, technological development, energy efficiency and economic feasibility were discussed. These provide a holistic approach for future research and development in manufacturing novel foam concrete. [Display omitted] •High fineness of fillers correlates to the increase of yield stress and pore refinement.•Nanomaterials and thickening agents as stabilisers provide excellent foam stability.•Foaming surfactant concentration and type of charge determine the fresh foam stability.•pH, impurity and salinity of solutions are critical for foam stabilisation.•Pore refinement is pronounced by introducing hydrophilic and micro-sized fibres.•A combination of techniques exhibits greater efficiency on foam stabilisation.