It is difficult to imagine a renovation without the use of this material. Alabaster, the use of which is very wide, is one of the most common materials used in repair, construction, decorative design interior. In the retail network, it is sold in the form of a powder. white diluted with water before use. It is distinguished from other similar materials by its fast solidification.
Concept, types, properties
It is called building alabaster or gypsum. consisting of a dry mixture of components. Gypsum is considered to be the main substance among them. The elasticity of alabaster, it is provided by polymer components. This material is classified as non-combustible, environmentally friendly natural materials. He has wonderful sound insulation properties, waterproof.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you start working with a mixture made from alabaster powder, you should study the characteristics of the material used. The powder is inexpensive, and for its excellent technological performance it is in deserved demand among buyers. In general, alabaster construction the following properties are inherent:
- dries quickly on contact with water (sets in 5 minutes, completely hardens in 30 minutes), which makes the material indispensable when you need a quick and high-quality surface finish;
- preventing the appearance of cracks;
- an even film forms on the treated surface;
- good refractory properties (difficult to ignite);
- high sound insulation.
This finishing material has a low weight and does not shrink during solidification. If the question arises as to whether alabaster is harmful to human health, then we can absolutely say that it is safe. The powder has a predominantly white color, but it is also found in other colors: light gray, yellow, sometimes it has greenish and pink shades.
What temperature does alabaster withstand? It can withstand exposure to extreme temperatures. Resists heat up to 700 ° without damage. The destructive consequences of interaction with an open fire will be visible after 6 hours.
The negative characteristics of the material include its insufficient strength, inability to withstand heavy loads. Due to the fact that when hardening, alabaster is able to absorb water, it should not be used in particularly humid rooms. The frozen alabaster mixture does not like it when the air around is dry and hot, then the material will simply crumble due to the loss of moisture reserve, a decrease in viscosity. Such disadvantages are eliminated by introducing alabaster mortar various additives.
Material features
When working, you must remember about the features inherent in this substance... In addition to the rapid solidification characteristic of it, it is able to increase in volume. Distinctive feature this material also lies in the fact that it does not stick to the surface of rubber products. It is even recommended to prepare a solution from it in a regular rubber ball. The material is stored in a dry place with a moisture content not exceeding 60%.
Currently according to the speed of hardening, the material is divided into the following types:
- with fast hardening;
- with a normal solidification rate;
- with slow hardening.
In the first case, the mixture used will set, a few minutes after its preparation, and after a quarter of an hour it will finally solidify. The solution of the second type will begin to solidify after preparation after 7 minutes, and finally hardens in 35 minutes. For the latter type of mixture, hardening begins after 20 minutes. from the moment of preparation, and finally the solution will solidify after 40 minutes.
The difference between alabaster and gypsum
Often people who do not have the necessary information both alabaster and gypsum are considered the same material... In fact, alabaster is obtained from gypsum after it has been thoroughly processed. First, gypsum is crushed, turning it into powder, then heating follows until a temperature of 180 ° is reached. As a result of all operations, alabaster is obtained.
A little about plaster
it natural material, eco-friendly, odorless... Unlike alabaster, it has a wider area of use. Its frequent use in construction is due to its good viscosity, fast, durable drying, significant resistance to fire.
WITH positive side gypsum characterizes the fact that it is able to absorb excess moisture in the room; and with a lack of moisture, it can give it back. Of such unique property are not found in other building materials, which allows gypsum to become widespread when internal works for finishing residential (industrial) premises.
Differences
Visually, the difference between these two substances may well be undetectable. Rather, you need to look for it in the properties of each of the materials, and not in a simple inspection of the result of their application. Gypsum, in contrast to alabaster, has great versatility in application. Gypsum is used in various fields human activity... Among them is medicine, in which it is used in the manufacture of casts.
Such plaster casts in dental clinics are needed in the manufacture of dentures. The casts have high quality... This facilitates precise work, as a result of which a person is comfortable with artificial teeth. Making dental impressions is just one of the areas of application of plaster in the field of medicine, where it has been used almost from the very discovery of the material.
For example, it is well known that with a broken arm (leg) apply a special bandage (plaster cast)... In addition to medicine, the area of application of gypsum is architecture and art. Gypsum was used in the creation of various bas-reliefs, for interior and exterior decoration classic buildings with stucco molding. Plaster-based jewelry is also popular in sculptures and applied arts.
Alabaster mixture dries and hardens faster than plaster. This property prevents the use of alabaster in the field of medicine and art. Often even with construction works ah, components are introduced into the alabaster solution that prevent it from hardening. There are no such problems when working with plaster. Gypsum, in contrast to alabaster, is softer.
Application of alabaster
It is used as a finishing material in construction:
- Production that admits dry plaster, plasterboard panels, stucco moldings, and other products cannot do without it.
- With its help, cracks, holes, chips, seams on the walls and ceilings of the premises are closed.
- The use of alabaster helps to fix electrical cables inside special grooves.
- It is used in the production of slopes, lighthouses, filling walls and other fences.
Often, due to the rapid hardening, alabaster is added to cement mortar in order to slow down the hardening process of the mortar. At the final stage, the surface treated with alabaster solution is often polished, grinded or scraped off. It should be remembered that no contact between the alabaster product and water should be allowed, otherwise any polishing will become dull.
The choice of containers for the preparation of the mixture
Since the mixture obtained from alabaster powder tends to solidify quickly, dilution of this material with water somewhat different from other similar solutions... If the mixture is prepared in a bucket or bowl, then when the alabaster solidifies in them, the container will have to be constantly cleaned from it, which is problematic. In this case, experienced builders try to breed a small amount of alabaster using rubber containers.
The remains of alabaster can be easily removed from there by squeezing the elastic thing. Such convenient device can be made from a simple camera, half a rubber ball. When breeding large quantities mixtures at a time, inner surface containers, in order to preserve it, cover plastic wrap, the edges of which are securely fixed.
Preparation of working solution
Anyone when working with alabaster should know how to breed it... The process of preparing the working solution of alabaster resembles the procedure for diluting dry glue before gluing wallpaper. To do this, take the components at the rate of: 1 kg of alabaster - 0.5 liters of water. Fill the selected container with water, into which dry alabaster is carefully poured. The components are mixed, preventing the formation of lumps, until the consistency of sour cream is reached. After about 2 min. the mixture is ready.
A freshly prepared alabaster solution is used immediately after preparation. If it dries up, it will be unusable. In order to use the solution longer, you need to know what to add to the alabaster so that it hardens more slowly. The addition of glue (carpentry, wallpaper) in the amount of 2% of the total weight of the mixture, lime solution to the solution will help to delay the drying process of the material.
To meet the result of the work with the requirements, you need to know how to breed building alabaster in relation to a certain kind works. Water resistance of alabaster product improve by applying paint or a special moisture-proof layer to its surface. A spatula or trowel is used to apply the prepared alabaster mixture. At the end of the work, the tools used are thoroughly washed.
Alabaster solution for various types of work, done correctly
To obtain good result work, you should observe certain proportions when preparing the mixture. Otherwise, the mixture will either harden quickly or not dry out at all. To avoid such situations, you must adhere to a proven recipe.
First, 0.5 liters of water is poured into a rubber container, 1 kg of alabaster is gradually poured into it from a bag. The bag with the material is held with one hand, and the mixture is mixed with the other. When mixing, no powder should remain on the walls of the container. The result is a homogeneous mass without lumps. Do not stir for too long to avoid loss of strength.
After 5 minutes. after cooking, the mass will thicken. It will take 20 to 30 minutes for the solution to completely solidify. Taking this fact into account, you should take such an amount of alabaster for kneading, which can be consumed in 5, maximum - 7 minutes. work performed. The made solution is used when covering up the formed cracks, fixing wires, and other minor works.
Applied to plaster used for walls requires a slightly different preparation of the mixture. To begin with, they are determined with the type of upcoming work. It is best to align the exterior walls of buildings with cement mortar. Internal walls smeared with a mixture of lime. If you take alabaster for plaster, its use with lime is suitable for eliminating all kinds of errors on the walls: cracks, cracks.
A dry lime mixture is preliminarily prepared, to which water and alabaster substance are then added. Instead of a container, you can use the rest of the rubber tire (other container) more than 10 cm in height. First, a certain amount of sand (1 part) is poured into it, then lime (5 parts). Further, with a spatula ( construction mixer) mix these substances until homogeneous.
Then add water, stirring the mixture until the consistency of fat sour cream. After that, they begin to make alabaster "dough", 1 part of which should account for 4 parts lime mixture... Next, the alabaster "dough" is poured into a container for lime. All components are not long, but mixed thoroughly. Having prepared the substance, they proceed directly to the construction work itself.
The first step is to "spray" the surface When a small amount of the mixture is taken with a construction shovel, it is thrown onto the surface of the wall with a sharp movement of the hand. This is done carefully so that the material does not splatter the entire wall.
The next step is to apply the primer using a wide trowel. The ground layer is leveled. A thin layer of plaster is placed on top. They cover the soil until it dries, using a roller (brush). When the plaster itself dries, it is treated counterclockwise with a construction plastic float using circular movements of the hand.
Having an idea of what alabaster is, its use when performing certain construction and renovation works, can be obtained at high results from its use... You only need to know how much alabaster powder is needed to complete a given amount of work, in addition, the recommended proportions should be observed when diluting it.
The simplest and inexpensive way to strengthen the trunk of the tree of happiness or other crafts - plaster or alabaster filling. You can dilute gypsum or alabaster for topiary in a separate container or directly in a pot. The first method involves diluting a liquid solution, the second - thick (to hold the trunk). Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, but in practice, both methods are applicable.
How to dilute gypsum - 2 ways of pouring
Liquid fill
Dilute gypsum (alabaster) liquid solution appropriate for a small pot, where kneading a thick mixture will be problematic. In addition, liquid gypsum creates a perfectly flat surface, which is convenient for further decoration of the topiary. However, it will take at least 24 hours to dry (depending on the size of the pot). It is this way - optimal and most convenient for filling topiary.
Dry gypsum is diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1 to 1, mixed until smooth and poured into the pot to the desired level. The trunk is preliminarily fixed with plasticine to the bottom of the planter. We recommend that you immediately wash the container and the kneading whisk: gypsum mix sets quickly, and alabaster hardens in a few seconds.
Dense potting
Dense plaster cast great for large, wide or shallow containers and is appropriate if you need to continue working on the tree of happiness as quickly as possible: the solution hardens in 3-4 hours.
Pour dry gypsum into the pot, slightly below the required level. Slowly add warm water, knead the solution until a thick, creamy mass is obtained. We insert the trunk of the topiary in the desired position. It is very important not to overdo it with water: in a liquid fill, the barrel will collapse, and the drying time will increase.
Detail,
Alabaster- one of the oldest building materials, known to craftsmen for more than 5 thousand years. And it is still in demand, despite the emergence of numerous dry building mixtures and the stricter requirements of the construction industry. Why?
Gypsum = alabaster?
People who are not associated with construction sometimes have confusion in terms: one thinks that gypsum and alabaster are synonyms, just everyone calls it, as he is used to, to others that alabaster is the best and highest quality variety of gypsum.
Some even believe that alabaster is the stone from which statues are sculpted, and in crushed form is used for finishing works therefore it is harder and whiter than plaster.
So what is alabaster?
This is really a "subspecies" of gypsum. Like building gypsum, it is obtained from a natural mineral - gypsum stone, both of which are calcium sulfate, onlythe first is dihydrate (CaSO4 2H2O)
, aalabaster - semi-aqueous (CaSO4 0.5H2O)
.
The mineral is crushed and then fired at a temperature of about 180C.
Alabaster has a finer grind than stucco, and therefore this material has less ductility, but greater hardness.
Also his unique feature drying times are - the alabaster mortar sets in an average of 5 minutes, that is, much faster than other building mixtures.
These properties narrow the range of application of alabaster to construction and decoration works, while gypsum can be used in many industries, including medicine, jewelry, casting, art, etc.
Characteristics and types of alabaster
The main averaged characteristics of alabaster are presented in the table below:
| Compressive strength | 4.0 MPa |
| Flexural strength | 2.0 MPa |
| Binder grade | G5 - G6 for building mixtures, as well as for the production of drywall, gypsum boards and gvl g13–g25 for the production of elements of high strength |
| Water consumption (in terms of 1 kg of dry mix, according to SNIP) | 0.65-0.70 liters |
| Setting time | 5-30 minutes from start to finish |
| Fire resistance | n heating up to 700 ° without destruction |
| Colour | White, pearl gray, yellowish, light green, light pink (the color depends on the characteristics of the deposit and, according to experts, does not affect the strength properties of the finished surface) |
Since one of the main features of the mixture is a quick set of strength, three types of alabaster are distinguished according to the speed of hardening:
Benefits of alabaster
Fast and smooth! Due to the speed of setting, the surface can be leveled literally in minutes, and after an hour, and even if taken with a margin, it is already ready for further processing.
Alabaster solution has high adhesion and fits perfectly on almost any prepared surface
Frozen alabaster has good strength characteristics. To this day, elements of palaces and temples have survived, which are more than 5 thousand years old, and they are in excellent condition. Drying, the material does not shrink and is resistant to cracking
Hardened alabaster absorbs noise, therefore, it can be used as an auxiliary material for sound insulation.
6 hours exposure to open fire- that is how much alabaster can withstand without significant deformations. It does not burn itself and prevents the spread of the flame.
As part of the material no chemical additives, it is environmentally friendly and can be safely applied in bedrooms, nurseries, etc.
Democratic in comparison with dry building mixes similar in tasks, the price.
Application of alabaster
Due to the peculiarities of the material, the range of application of alabaster in construction is wide: it is relevant for the production of drywall, is in demand by professional builders, and is also often used by private traders for minor repairs.
- Correction of cosmetic defects of the walls, ceilings and surfaces GKL / GVL. Alabaster mixture is traditionally used to remove a variety of chips, dents, cracks, etc.
- Preparing surfaces for finishing Alabaster mixture is excellent for filling walls and partitions in rooms with normal humidity, it is used to prepare surfaces for wallpaper of all types, as well as decorative plaster... Some builders use alabaster even in bathrooms, under tiles, but in this case it is necessary that the material is completely hidden by the cladding and does not come into contact with water. This principle is also true for the kitchen, as alabaster absorbs wet vapors.
- Electric installation work Alabaster is the joy of an electrician, the most convenient material that allows you to quickly fix the cable in the wall without the risk that it will move while the mixture dries. In addition, many use it when installing socket boxes, tk. even when roughly pulling the plug out of the socket, the structure, thanks to the hardness of alabaster, is guaranteed to remain in the wall, which sometimes more expensive and modern dry mixes cannot provide.
- Interior decoration. When decorating rooms with stucco molding often occurs specific problem: Cast plaster elements are heavy and therefore must be firmly fixed to the base. This is especially true for ceilings. And alabaster in this case - perfect option... He will also come to the rescue for masking and sealing small flaws in stucco molding and is indispensable for restoration work.
Preparation for work
When working with alabaster, half of the success depends on the quality of preparation, namely, on the selection of containers and tools.
To make the process easier, consider the following principles.
- There is no metal container right away! Alabaster will stick tightly to the iron walls, which means loss of material, inconvenience and spoiled container. Plastic dishes are better suited, but the most comfortable option is still rubber: the solution does not stick to the springy walls, and after the end of the work, the dried residues are easily shaken out, for this it is enough to squeeze the form several times and then turn it over. In addition, if desired, building stores you can purchase special buckets for working with plaster.
- There is no container with the rest of the solution right away! The dried solution accelerates the hardening of the new batch to be mixed.
- As for the spatula, modern tools made of plastic or rubber, the mixture does not stick to them. But a classic steel spatula is also quite suitable, a new one is better: according to the observations of some craftsmen, rust accelerates the setting of an already fast-hardening solution
For small mix volumes
Small portions of alabaster can be conveniently closed in nylon buckets or compact rubber containers. Often, builders use halves of ordinary children's balls of a suitable diameter.
A spatula is optimal for stirring "small doses" of alabaster mixture.
For large volumes
Plastic or rubber bucket cover with a solid piece of cellophane, dense and without gaps, pinch the "tails" to the edges of the container so that the polyethylene does not move during stirring; after use, the film is simply removed from the bucket and discarded.
It is convenient to stir the solution with a construction mixer, and in its absence - with a drill with a nozzle.
Mixing and working with solution
It is important to answer three questions here: in what proportion to close, how exactly to close and what nuances should be taken into account when mixing?
Actually, the proportions depend on the purposes for which the solution is planned to be used. SNiP recommends the following ratios:
In order not to ruin the material and get a high-quality solution, stick strictly to technology.
remember, that the mixture is added to the water, but not the other way around!
Powder you need pour in gradually like flour in pancake dough, and stir thoroughly until the mass is homogeneous.
The correct filler solution has the consistency of mousse or yoghurt.
If the solution begins to harden, and you didn’t have time to use it up or do what you planned, just throw it away without trying to "reanimate" by adding water. With alabaster, the principle "died so died" is true for 200%, the set solution is no longer suitable for anything.
When applying the solution, refer to the fact that when drying out, the material increases slightly in volume.
Tips from the masters:
1. Theory and SNiPs- this, of course, is good, but in practice, alas, a dry mixture can behave differently, it all depends on the brand and even the batch. Therefore, before mixing the entire required volume, test with 100 grams of material.
2. For mixing use cold water.
3. When mixing the solution, it is definitely worth strive for uniformity... However, overdoing it is also fraught: there is an opinion that too long and thorough mixing, especially with a mixer, violates the structure of alabaster, as a result of which it loses its strength.
How to prolong the pot life of the alabaster solution?
Novice craftsmen, as well as private traders without experience and construction skill, when working with alabaster, often ask themselves whether it is possible to slow down the hardening of the solution a little.
And there really are such ways. Some of them are quite scientific, some refer to "folk" methods, which, nevertheless, have shown themselves well in practice.
Method 1. Bone glue.
A good old remedy, approved by more than one generation of builders. When mixing, add any bone-based glue, whether it is weakly diluted paint or carpentry. The main thing is the dosage: 2% of the total weight of the mixture.
Method 2. Citric acid
The recipe is as follows: take 4-5 grains for 0.5 cups of alabaster citric acid and toss into cold water while mixing. However, the masters note that, with apparent simplicity, the method is not universal, since the amount of acid must be selected for a specific alabaster mixture, that is, tests and experiments are required.
Method 3. PVA glue
Here the builders are divided into two camps. Some say that 3% PVA per weight of the mixture gives excellent result, that is, they extend the viability of the solution almost several times and in the future do not affect its strength in any way. Others object to them - they say that the film that PVA forms on the surface upon drying can block the evaporation of water, so that recrystallization and enlargement of sodium sulfate hydrate crystals are likely, and this leads to a deterioration in strength characteristics.
How to choose and where to buy?
It would seem that alabaster is a simple mixture, without chemicals, without plasticizers, take the first package of any brand you come across and go, because it is difficult to spoil the material. However, there are still nuances in the choice.
- Since alabaster is extremely susceptible to moisture, it should be stored in dry rooms. So it is advisable to purchase the mixture in stores, and not in markets where the tightness of containers often leaves much to be desired, and even more so not on open-air sites.
- Check the integrity of the packaging carefully since at the slightest violation of it, there is a chance that the material has partially or completely lost its properties.
- As simple as the alabaster mixture, it is worth choosing not only by price, but also by manufacturer: the priority is for large manufacturers, because, thanks to well-established and regulated production, they are ready to ensure quality stability, while the quality of noname brands can strongly "dance" from batch to batch.
- Give away preference for brands on the packaging of which the proportions for mixing their mixture are indicated, since, despite the SNiP standards, the recommendations may vary.
Nowadays, there is a huge variety of powders, mixtures, some kind of intermediate materials used to make the final building product. The choice of this or that depends on the goals set for the implementation. So, one of the well-known and popular materials is alabaster.
General concept, properties
Those who are faced with the question of what alabaster is, should know that it is an environmentally friendly, non-combustible natural material that has first-class sound insulation and excellent water resistance. Generally speaking, building alabaster has the following properties:
- The speed of hardening (after 5 minutes it sets and reaches full hardening in half an hour)
- Resistance to cracking
- Maximum possible evenness of the product on the surface
- High level of sound insulation
Most often it is white, but alabaster options are possible in yellow, light gray and even green, pinkish shades. In the course of working with alabaster, some of its features should be taken into account. So, in addition to the speed of hardening, it must be borne in mind that after drying, alabaster somewhat increases in volume. Another, no less interesting detail is that alabaster absolutely does not stick to rubber, and therefore some even advise to breed it in a regular ball.
If it is planned to breed alabaster in a bucket, then the container is preliminarily lined with polyethylene. Otherwise, you will have to throw out the bucket if even a little alabaster gets on the sides of the container. Store such material in places inaccessible to moisture. Today, three types of alabaster are known:
- Normally hardening
- Slow hardening
- Fast hardening
Gypsum and alabaster - the main differences
Most people who are inexperienced in this matter naively believe that gypsum and alabaster are one and the same. In reality, the situation is somewhat different. In fact, alabaster is gypsum that has just undergone serious processing. So, gypsum is ground into powder, and then heated to 180 ° C. This powder is nothing more than alabaster. It turns back to gypsum when it is mixed with water.
Scope of application
As a rule, alabaster is used mainly in the construction industry, in particular, as a finishing material. A product such as alabaster, the use of which relates specifically to the performance of construction work, is indispensable in the manufacture of drywall panels, dry sheet plaster, stucco and much more. It is known that this material is subsequently often subjected to different kind polishing: processing with horsetail, sawing or scraping. However, if you allow even the slightest contact final product from alabaster with water, there will be no trace of polishing - it will tarnish.
Breeding technology
Everyone who sooner or later comes across this product should know the basic rules of how to breed alabaster. The technology for making alabaster is very similar to the process of diluting wallpaper glue. In order to properly dilute alabaster, the ratio of the product to water should be 1: 0.5, where 1 kg of alabaster falls on half a liter of water.
The resulting mixture is stirred until it reaches the state of "sour cream". After a couple of minutes, you can start using it directly. However, it should be remembered that the use of alabaster is permissible only immediately after the end of its manufacture. After re-drying, it is no longer suitable for any type of work. The only way to delay the setting of alabaster is to add 2% animal glue or a lime solution to the solution.
Marl, travertine, calcite, gypsum. The names of these stones are united under the name alabaster... Separately, calcite - rock metamorphic plan, that is, formed under pressure from existing ones.
Calcite's formula is CaCO 3. The composition of the gypsum also includes sulfur and water. By marl, geologists mean a clay-like sedimentary type rock with silicon in the formula. Travertine, on the other hand, is a calcareous tuff, similar to marble, but containing hydrogen. It remains to find out what alabaster means and how it is connected with the listed stones.
Description and features of alabaster
Alabaster - construction material. Confusion in concepts is associated with the antiquity of the material. The city named Alabaster was in Ancient egypt... The rock mined nearby was named after the settlement. According to Pliny's description, it was white, translucent.
Suitable for the description of gypsum, and for calcite, some types of marl and travertine. However, there was gypsum near Alabaster. There are traces of it in the area to this day, and the artifacts speak for themselves.
In the photo there is a rock of alabaster
First, the Egyptians carved lamps and jugs from alabaster. Then, the stone dust remaining from the production was used. Mixed with water, it turned into a viscous substance.
It was smeared on the cracks in the walls,. The mixture quickly solidified, turning into a kind of solid rock. This decoration can be seen in the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete. The building is ancient Greek.
Accordingly, from the Egyptians alabaster as construction material, passed to other peoples. Not everyone had a plaster cast at hand. In different localities, the stone was replaced with similar colors, hardness, properties.
The main parameter of variegated alabaster is moisture capacity. Particles of crushed stones are porous. Moisture enters these pores. The powder increases in volume, becomes plastic, like a dough.
Combine alabaster and other parameters:
Fire resistance. At first glance, it is typical of stones. But let's remember anthracite. Bituminous coal burns without residue and serves as one of the main sources of energy.
Hardness on the Mohs scale in the region of 3-4 ex points. There are 10 marks in total on the scale. At the top is a diamond, and at the first step is talc. The latter is used in baby powder. This gives an understanding of the softness and pliability of the stone. 3-4 points - the indicator of hardness is below average. The selected rocks are easy to grind.
Environmental friendliness. The mineral composition of the building mixtures ensures their safety for health. Again, there are radioactive stones, for example, strontium sulfate called celestine. But, in gypsum, calcite, travertine and marl, there are no dangerous components.
Fast set of strength. Any alabaster freezes rapidly, transforming from a doughy mass into a stone in a matter of hours.
Before entering the shelves, alabaster is crushed to a finely dispersed state and fired at a temperature of about 200 degrees. However, here the types of mixture begin to differ.
Only water-containing stones are fired, and this is gypsum and marl. So, about the particulars different types alabaster will have a separate conversation. In the meantime, let's get acquainted with the fields of application of powders.
Application of alabaster
Gypsum-alabaster- the basis of plasterboard panels. Stone powder in them, enclosed between two paper layers. Sheets are easy to cut, but strong enough to ceiling structures, zoning partitions, niches for cabinets and wall alignment.
Alabaster is the basis of drywall panels
Alabaster solution comes in handy as a plaster. However, there is also sheet plaster. It is called dry. Drywall can be nominally categorized. But more often, sheet plaster is understood as in which gypsum and paper fiber are mixed.
Application of alabaster found in the stucco. Without her, are unthinkable classic interiors in the spirit of the 18-19th centuries. As a rule, stucco molding is made from gypsum powder. In silicone molds, its mass takes on any, the most ornate outlines.
The disadvantages of products include stringent requirements for the flatness of the base surfaces. Gypsum stucco moldings do not bend, they can only be mounted on walls without distortions. Another drawback is common to all alabaster - moisture capacity.
From alabaster you can make figurines for home and garden decor, and stucco
It makes powders plastic. She also exposes alabaster products to deformation and swelling. In general, construction materials and products from them are not used in damp rooms. The coatings crack, crumble.
If we talk about alabaster, like gypsum, then its application goes beyond the construction sphere. In particular, the material is used by doctors. Many have had to deal with plaster powder fixation of fractures. Even in some cases of flat feet, a splint is needed.
In ancient times, alabaster was treated at the interface with magic. It was believed that wearing a stone on the body blocks the development of diseases. thyroid gland, kidneys, liver. Alabaster was also put into drugs.
Healers of the past claimed that pebbles in drinks enhance their properties. However, knowledge is different geological nature alabaster casts doubt on the claims of the healers.
Stones of different origins and with different chemical formula and must act on the body in different ways. Hence the doubts about magical properties alabaster. The breed is said to protect against anger higher powers and influential persons. The belief is connected with the legend that alabaster was sent to people by the Gods.
Let's go back to building alabaster. Its properties are proven and unambiguous. The scheme of application has also been verified. Dilute the powder in small portions. Rapid solidification of formulations excludes long work with them.
Accordingly, the finishers must have a hand full. Professionals know powders are diluted cold water pouring into it, and not vice versa. Stir immediately without waiting for it to get wet. For mixing, it is convenient to use a drill attachment. Its components are combined until smooth. Lumps should not remain, even small ones.
Besides the question, how to breed alabaster, the question of the nuances of its application is also important. So, when leveling with a mixture of walls, you need a composition with the longest possible hardening period.
Plastering walls know that after applying the base layer, corrections and greasing are required. Quick grasping of alabaster eliminates the possibility of working on mistakes. Compositions with the addition of plasticizers help out.
The difficulties of working with alabaster mixtures are inferior to the pluses of coatings. Their porosity provides excellent sound and thermal insulation properties... The high adhesion of alabaster strengthens the substrate as much as possible, for example, walls. The flowing mixture fills the smallest cracks in them, penetrates to a depth of 1 centimeter.
Alabaster is applied with two spatulas. The smaller mix is superimposed on the larger. With a large spatula, the alabaster is spread over the walls from bottom to top. The mechanism is identical to the filling. With alabaster, however, you need to work faster.
Alabaster grasps very quickly, so working with it requires a certain skill
Types of alabaster
The main division of alabaster is presented in the table of contents. It is promised to pay attention to the differences in the properties of the mixtures. Let's start with reactivity. Let's analyze the calcite and gypsum alabaster. Marly and travertine are not used in modern times.
Calcite belongs to carbonate rocks, that is, it contains a carbon bond CO. Accordingly, the solution buy alabaster from calcium is fraught with violent reaction of the mixture with hydrochloric acid.
So, the last one from the powder and its solution should be kept away. After the reaction, calcite alabaster loses its valuable properties. Gypsum, on the other hand, does not belong to carbonates; it is more resistant to acids.
In the photo there is a rock of calcite alabaster
Calcite is harder than gypsum because it is not resistant to acids. If you use carbonate powder correctly, the products from it are more solid, stronger. Externally, products and coatings resemble marble, also related to carbonate rocks.
Distinguish between gypsum and calcite alabaster and by color. The variety of marble is greenish and pink. So building calcite alabaster is found in color, and without synthetic pigment additives. Gypsum alabaster is colorful only with third-party additives.
Residents began to use calcite as alabaster Ancient East... This is proved by the lines of the Bible. In it, calcite is called eastern alabaster, in accordance with the routes of delivery to other parts of the world.
Calcite alabaster continues to be produced only in the East. European and Russian standards building mixture associated with plaster. Objectively, this is the only one on the western market alabaster. Proportions its to the world market - almost 90%. Other types of alabaster account for 10%. So, we will talk about price tags within the "framework" of plaster mixes.
Alabaster price
On alabaster price depends on the packaging, the name of the manufacturer and the location of his factories. Powder Russian production in the domestic open spaces the cheapest. In second place are Chinese products.
American alabaster and from the EU countries are the most expensive. However, the price tag is sometimes justified by the quality of the powder. It should be free of foreign impurities and as finely dispersed as possible.
With regards to packaging, retail alabaster is sold both by kilogram and by 45. Powder is enclosed with paper bags. A kilogram package can be bought for 15 rubles. The maximum price tag is 110 rubles.
For this price, 5 and 8 kg bags are successfully purchased. For 600 rubles, you can buy 40 kilograms of plaster alabaster. On average, the cost of bags is comparable to the price tag for a similar volume of cement. It is also available in bags.
The price tags for alabaster products are more variegated. Artifacts cost thousands of dollars. Firstly, the antiquity of objects plays a role, and secondly, their rarity. The latter is largely due to the softness of the stones of the alabaster group. Most of the handicrafts, vases, lamps from them have long ago crumbled into dust, split into pieces.
Price modern products from alabaster depends on the complexity of execution and scope. The same stucco molding can be thin and unpretentious, or massive and ornate.
The latter is, of course, more expensive, especially when manual way manufacturing. The master takes a plaster base, and for long hours puts patterns of plaster cords and ribbons on it.
Modern handicrafts such as salt shakers and ashtrays are also made of alabaster by hand. There are copies for 10,000-15,000 rubles. The cost of the material is low, but the work of the craftsmen is highly valued.
Alabaster is rarely used for jewelry, it is too soft. Having paid for the jewelry, you will have to put up with multiple scratches on it. The damage blocks the stone's silky shine, which is its beauty.