Gypsum plasterboards are nowadays very appreciated in buildings, mainly due to their lightness, thermal insulation and suitable sound transmission loss when used in double walls. However thermal and acoustic features of gypsum plasterboard can be enhanced. In the present study an innovative method, consisting in the direct addition of a pre-manufactured foam to gypsum pastes is used to increase the gypsum porosity improving sound absorption, lightness and thermal insulation features. In this aim, the role of both different amounts and dilutions of a vegetal foaming agent on the main physical, mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the gypsum was experimentally investigated. Moreover, also X-ray computed micro tomography technique (Micro-CT) was carried out in order to investigate the 3D internal microstructure of the materials. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the foaming agent in increasing the gypsum porosity, with a linear correlation between densities and mechanical strengths. Moreover, the presence of large bubbles, mainly connected each other, involved in a strong reduction of the thermal coefficient (λ), from 0.57 W/m∙K of REF sample to 0.25 W/m∙K of LG10_5% sample, and in a strong increase of the normal sound absorption coefficient (α₀), from 0.06 of REF sample to 0.20 of LG10_5% sample. Finally, in the light of the results obtained by the present research, the use of a pre-whipped vegetal foaming agent represents a suitable way to obtain lightweight gypsum-based materials with enhanced thermal and acoustic properties.

石膏石膏板如今在建筑物中非常受欢迎，主要是由于它们在双层墙中使用时重量轻、隔热和适当的声音传输损失。然而，石膏石膏板的热学和声学特性可以得到增强。在本研究中，一种创新方法包括将预制泡沫直接添加到石膏糊中，以增加石膏孔隙率，从而改善吸音、轻盈和隔热特性。为此，通过实验研究了植物发泡剂的不同量和稀释度对石膏的主要物理、机械和微观结构特性的作用。此外，还进行了 X 射线计算机显微断层扫描技术 (Micro-CT) 以研究材料的 3D 内部微观结构。结果证实了发泡剂在增加石膏孔隙率方面的有效性，在密度和机械强度之间具有线性相关性。此外，主要相互连接的大气泡的存在导致热系数 (λ) 的强烈降低，从 REF 样品的 0.57 W/m∙K 到 LG10_5% 样品的 0.25 W/m∙K，并且在正常吸声系数（α₀ )，从 REF 样本的 0.06 到 LG10_5% 样本的 0.20。最后，根据本研究获得的结果，使用预搅打的植物发泡剂是获得具有增强的热学和声学性能的轻质石膏基材料的合适方法。