Increase in available construction volumes residential complexes led to the need for inexpensive building materials, which at the same time have high performance characteristics. One of them was expanded clay concrete.
Expanded clay concrete is a building material based on concrete mortar filled with expanded clay gravel.
Traditionally, cement, sand and expanded clay granules are used in the production of expanded clay concrete. Sometimes used as a binding component building gypsum, limestone and synthetic resins. The resulting material acquires all the properties of the filler included in its composition - expanded clay.
Expanded clay is a coarse-grained porous building material obtained by heat treatment of a special type of low-melting clay. Expanded clay granules are light in weight and have high heat and sound insulating properties. As a filler for concrete, expanded clay significantly reduces the cost of housing, as it is a fairly cheap and at the same time quite durable material.
The scope of expanded clay concrete is quite wide. Ecologically clean way obtaining its main component - expanded clay, high stability to temperature and chemical influences, low thermal conductivity and light weight make its use quite promising in construction. Wall panels and blocks made of expanded clay concrete are currently being produced for residential buildings. Concrete with expanded clay filler is also used for the construction of buildings with permanent formwork.
The light weight and good thermal insulation properties of expanded clay concrete make it ideal for cottage construction and the construction of low-rise buildings. In areas with seismically unstable conditions, the lightness of expanded clay concrete buildings makes it possible to avoid large casualties in the event of an earthquake.
Expanded clay concrete is widely used for the construction of enclosing structures and as a heat-insulating layer in multilayer wall panels. It is also used for the installation of heat-insulating layers of the roof, floor screed and the construction of interior partitions.
Expanded clay concrete, made using high grades of cement, has increased strength and is used in the construction load-bearing structures walls, bridge construction and shipbuilding.
Types of expanded clay concrete
In construction, it is customary to divide expanded clay concrete depending on its purpose, technical characteristics and structure.
By purpose and technical properties, in construction, the classification of expanded clay concrete into the following types is accepted:
- Structural
- structural and insulating
- thermal insulation.
Structural Expanded clay concrete has high strength and is used where it is necessary to lighten load-bearing structures. For example, it is used in the construction of bridges and shipbuilding.
Structural-insulating Expanded clay concrete is used mainly in the construction of enclosing structures and walls of buildings. It is subject to increased requirements for frost resistance.
Thermal insulation– has a small volume weight and strength. It is used as insulating material to reduce heat losses in wall panel structures.
Based on the structure and size of the granules filling it, expanded clay concrete is divided into the following types:
- Large porous
- Porous
- dense.
Large porous Expanded clay concrete does not contain sand in its composition and is made from expanded clay, with a granule diameter of 0.5 to 2 cm. It is used in the construction of monolithic houses for external walls and wall blocks. Such walls require additional finishing to prevent blowing.
Porous Expanded clay concrete has a higher density than large-porous concrete and better thermal insulation properties due to the air bubbles included in its composition.
Dense Expanded clay concrete has high density and strength. It contains sufficient quantity cement mortar, to fill all intergrain spaces. It is used for the construction of load-bearing structures, walls, ceilings and partitions. Often used for floor screeding.
Composition and proportions
The composition and proportions of expanded clay concrete directly depend on the requirements final product requirements for technical characteristics and performance.
The use of different grades of cement, increasing or decreasing the amount of cement mortar lead to changes in the strength and insulating properties of expanded clay concrete products. So, for example, an increase percentage cement to expanded clay, increases the strength of the material, while at the same time reducing its heat and sound insulating properties.
The use of various additives also affects the properties and characteristics of expanded clay concrete. In particular, to increase strength and elasticity, it is added quartz sand. The use of plasticizing additives increases the plasticity of the material.
The classic composition of expanded clay concrete involves the use of cement, sand and expanded clay granules with a diameter of 5 mm in proportions 1: 2: 3. To dilute the mixture, water is used in a volume not exceeding 70% of the expected volume of the composition. As a rule, its volume is equal to the volume of cement.
Specifications
Expanded clay concrete has the following properties and characteristics:
- low thermal conductivity;
- high heat and sound insulation;
- resistance to chemicals;
- frost resistance;
- fire resistance;
- moisture resistance.
The most important property of a material in construction is its strength. The strength of expanded clay concrete is determined experimentally. At the same time, the limit at which it will collapse under a load of several tons is being explored.
There are the following grades of expanded clay concrete, depending on its strength:
- M300 is the highest grade, characterized by increased strength indicators, necessary for the construction of load-bearing structures, bridges and especially strong expanded clay concrete products;
- M200 – used in the production of wall blocks and light floors;
- M150 - used for the production of lightweight expanded clay concrete blocks and wall panels;
- M100 - most often used for floor screeding;
- M75 and M50 - used in the construction of external heat-insulating walls and interior partitions.
The strength of expanded clay concrete products directly depends on the density of the composition. The higher the density, the more durable they will be. Density is determined by the ratio of the mass of the material to its volume.
Depending on the type, expanded clay concrete has the following density indicators:
- thermal insulation – 500 kg/m3;
- structural – 1500-1800 kg/m3;
- thermal insulation and structural – 900-1200 kg/m3.
Porosity is another integral property of expanded clay concrete, expressed in the ratio of the total volume of pores to the volume of material.
Volumetric mass– a property of expanded clay concrete, depending on the quality and type of filler. Depending on its indicators, the following types of expanded clay concrete are distinguished:
- especially light
- easy
- heavy.
Expanded clay concrete made from natural heavy expanded clay has the highest volumetric mass - 1200-1400 kg/m3.
Light expanded clay concrete – 800-1000 kg/m3.
Particularly lightweight - made from artificial porous aggregates and has a volumetric mass of 600 kg/m3.
Pros and cons of expanded clay concrete.
Advantages
Ease expanded clay concrete blocks - can significantly reduce the weight of erected structures, which is especially important in the construction of bridges and buildings that require special strength and low weight.
Low thermal conductivity ensures that expanded clay concrete has such a valuable quality for housing construction as fire resistance.
Expanded clay concrete products are capable of long time withstand exposure to high temperatures, without any special consequences for yourself.
Low cost products made from expanded clay concrete is ensured by the cheapness of the filler and the reduction in the amount of cement mortar, which can significantly reduce the cost of buildings and make housing more affordable.
A particularly important quality of expanded clay concrete blocks is its environmental friendliness and breathability. Walls made of this material “breathe”, making the indoor climate more comfortable for living.
Frost resistance– the quality of expanded clay concrete, allowing its use in low-temperature climates.
Plastic and the lightness of the material allows the use of expanded clay concrete in the construction of buildings with exquisite architectural features and decorative elements.
Water resistance, chemical resistance, high sound and heat insulating properties make expanded clay concrete the most attractive material for housing construction. High strength indicators ensure the durability of expanded clay concrete structures.
Flaws
It is inferior in strength ordinary concrete, so its scope of application is limited. In particular, it is not recommended to use it when laying foundations and for erecting load-bearing structures, with the exception of structural expanded clay concrete, which contains high grade cement. When constructing walls made of expanded clay concrete, a careful calculation of the required strength of the building is first carried out, or the walls are strengthened with iron reinforcement.
House made of expanded clay concrete
In Russia, the use of expanded clay concrete is not as widely developed as abroad. However, its popularity in individual construction is increasingly gaining momentum. Why is a house made of expanded clay concrete better than a conventional brick one and is it worth giving preference to this material during construction? Let's try to understand this issue by covering it from all sides and analyzing reviews of people who used expanded clay concrete to build their house.
How much does it cost to build a house?
Compared to other building materials, expanded clay concrete is relatively cheap material. The low price is due to the low cost of its main constituent substance – expanded clay. Big sizes expanded clay concrete blocks help reduce the consumption of cement mortar, which also leads to a reduction in the cost of construction. The slotted blocks have a tongue-and-groove system, which makes it possible not to use a fastening compound at all in vertical joints. The use of homemade blocks from expanded clay concrete blocks makes the cost of the house even lower by an order of magnitude.
To calculate the cost of a building built on your own, the price includes the cost of building materials, the cost of their transportation and the price of the building design. The approximate cost of a one-story house, with dimensions of 7x8 m, with siding and a roof covering with metal tiles, is about 800,000 rubles. The services of a construction company will cost almost twice as much.
How difficult is it to build a house from expanded clay concrete?
Building a house from expanded clay concrete does not require any particularly complex design solutions. At the same time, the lightness of expanded clay concrete blocks and their significant dimensions compared to conventional bricks make it possible to reduce laying time and labor costs for the construction of walls. The main point of construction of expanded clay concrete houses is the need for external and interior decoration to provide protection from drafts and better thermal insulation walls
How comfortable is it to live in a house made of expanded clay concrete?
One of the main advantages of houses made of expanded clay concrete blocks is the environmental friendliness of the material from which they are built. Expanded clay is a material obtained from natural material– clay. Houses made of expanded clay concrete do not emit substances harmful to human health. And the porous structure allows the walls to “breathe”, making the microclimate comfortable for living. Low thermal conductivity helps reduce heat loss to a minimum, making such houses warm, and the low water absorption of expanded clay concrete ensures a dry room at any time of the year.
Expanded clay concrete blocks are widely used for the construction of various structures, ranging from outbuildings to large country houses. This is all thanks to the quality characteristics that they possess.
The material is quite durable, but has low thermal conductivity, which allows you to retain maximum heat indoors. High-quality expanded clay concrete blocks are manufactured only in accordance with GOST. This article will describe the main characteristics inherent in the material in accordance with the standard.
There are several criteria according to which the choice of this building material should be made:
- High-quality elements are made only from Portland cement of a grade of at least 400. This is due to the fact that it gives high strength.
- If heat treatment is necessary for building materials, alite-type cement is used.
- For manufacturing, quartz sand can be used to impart strength, expanded clay gravel, but only without sand admixture, and hydrophobic cement, which will reduce water absorption by the material.
Important! To avoid reducing the strength of the material, plasticizers are not added to it.
Types of expanded clay concrete blocks in accordance with GOST
Expanded clay concrete is a material that is intended for the construction of walls. The finished mass with the required technical characteristics is poured into molds and allowed to harden, after which a finished element is obtained. Each such part may have through or non-through slotted holes inside.
According to GOST, expanded clay blocks can be:
It is worth noting that elements with grooves adhere to each other much better, which helps increase the strength of the structure.
Expanded clay blocks can also vary in surface texture. They are:
- Chipped.
- Elements with an uneven surface. Irregularities can exceed 8 mm in parameters. Grooved. Combination
- correct surface
- with projections or depressions.
Polished.
Based on the name, it is clear that such elements are processed and have a slightly rough surface with traces of processing. Smooth. They have the same coverage over the entire surface without traces of processing.
According to their intended purpose, they can be used for the construction of external and internal walls, as well as for cladding. Depending on the purpose of use, an expanded clay concrete block can have 1 face type surface or 2 - end and side. The front surface may have various processing, in accordance with the standard. The polished surface is performed only at the request of the customer. In terms of color, block expanded clay can be colorless, that is, simple gray or colored, which occurs due to the addition of coloring pigments to the composition.
The shape of each part is made in the form rectangular parallelepiped, but may vary depending on the wishes of the customer.
The ends of block expanded clay may have a smooth surface, or they may have notches or grooves. Corner elements can be done in the form right angle, or can be rounded. In terms of weight, regardless of type, an individual element cannot exceed 31 kg.
If a part with voids is considered, then the thickness of the outer wall must be 2 cm, as is the indicator of the internal vertical partition. This rule is suitable for material with through-type slots. For non-through voids, the allowed thickness is internal partitions not less than 1 cm.
An indicator such as compressive strength for expanded clay concrete can vary and range from 50 to 300 for expanded clay concrete blocks made of heavy concrete and from 100 to 25 for lightweight concrete.
In terms of frost resistance, expanded clay concrete has several grades F25, F35, F50, F75. The frost resistance class applies only to those parts that will be used for the construction external walls, since the internal ones will not be exposed to this effect.
Fire resistance is also important. For expanded clay concrete it is A1. This value shows that the destruction of the material occurs after 7 - 10 hours when exposed to open fire.
Important! Even despite such high quality characteristics, the use of expanded clay concrete in contact with the soil is prohibited, since the material can collapse.
Vapor permeability is now of particular importance when choosing a building material. Expanded clay concrete blocks allow air to pass through them much better than, for example, brick. A house made of such material will always have a comfortable microclimate inside, even with insufficient ventilation.
The standard implies following sizes building blocks made of expanded clay concrete:
- 390*190*188 mm for wall blocks
- 390*90*190 for blocks from which partitions are made.
Block marking
In order to choose the right expanded clay concrete blocks for the construction of a particular structure, you need to know the brand marking, which shows the main technical characteristics in an abbreviated form. The marking consists of several letters with numbers:
Knowing the algorithm for reading the markings of expanded clay concrete blocks, you can choose exactly the type that is required for masonry.
Conclusion
Any building material is manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the quality standard and expanded clay concrete blocks are no exception. To choose the right material, you need to know the indicators that it must meet, because the success of the future operation of the structure depends on the quality of the material.
For the first time, blocks with the addition of expanded clay began to be used in construction more than 60 years ago. Then, with their help, buildings were erected for various purposes. Since then, many innovative materials have been created, so expanded clay concrete was gradually forgotten. However, today its popularity is beginning to grow again, due to a number of positive qualities. Let's look at what this material is and what positive and negative properties are inherent in it.
Production of expanded clay concrete blocks
Expanded clay is a loose filler that is obtained by firing light-alloy varieties of clay. This component serves as the basis of building blocks, to which cement, sand and water are added during the production process. Depending on the proportion of all components, the final material has different properties.
The method of producing expanded clay concrete blocks determines the purpose and main characteristics of the final product. Products that contain more expanded clay (than cement) are particularly lightweight and have high thermal insulation properties, but they are more fragile and expensive. A block made of fine-grained filler has increased strength, but it is not advisable to use it as insulation.
Visual differences
According to appearance and structure, the wall is divided into 4 groups:
Facial products;
Ordinary blocks;
Solid bricks;
Hollow products.
Products of the first group were created for the construction of premises, as they have a presentable appearance and do not require subsequent finishing. Ordinary blocks must be processed and covered with some decorative material.
Solid options are manufactured for use in multi-story construction. Such walls hold fastening elements perfectly, making them ideal for arranging ventilated facades.
Hollow expanded clay concrete block (wall) is easy to install, lightweight and has low thermal conductivity, but it can be used for construction low-rise buildings(no higher than two levels).
Material Specifications
Depending on the manufacturing method and purpose of the blocks, their technical characteristics vary, but we will highlight the average indicators for wall products:
1. Block Density. This is the main criterion for choosing products for construction. The reliability of the constructed wall and its properties depend on it. Depending on the quality of the raw materials, the density of the product may vary, but most often it ranges from 500 to 1800 kilograms per m³. Load resistance in this case is about 25-35 kilograms per cm².
2. Dimensions. depends on its variety. The most common options are with widths of 70, 190, 390 and 425 mm. The height of such products is most often 190 and 240 mm, and the length is from 120 to 450 mm.
3. Thermal conductivity. Based on energy-saving quality, all expanded clay concrete products are divided into two groups. The first category includes hollow products weighing from 600 to 1100 kg/m³, which are characterized by low thermal conductivity. The second group includes products from 1200-1800 kg/m³, which are less reliable as thermal insulation.
4. Vapor permeability. Expanded clay concrete allows steam to pass through it several times better than brick. This quality helps maintain a favorable microclimate in the room, since the walls absorb excess moisture and release it when the air becomes dry. Also, this material does not interfere with natural air exchange.
5. Resistance to temperature changes. When freezing and thawing blocks for for long years do not lose their original strength. During combustion, the material is able to retain its properties for 8 hours, which suggests its safety.
Advantages
Stenovaya has a number of positive qualities, thanks to which its use has become relevant again these days. One of its main advantages is the relatively low cost. If we compare the costs of building a house made of brick and expanded clay concrete material, then the costs in the second option will be one third lower than in the first.
Also to positive properties These products include:
Reducing the construction time of buildings (due to the size of the expanded clay concrete block);
Light load on the base of the building;
Good strength;
Impact resistance environment;
No shrinkage process;
Possibility of laying using glue and mortar;
Duration of operation (more than 75 years);
Environmental friendliness;
Fire safety.
It should also be noted that the blocks are not susceptible to infestation by beetles, rodents and insects.
Flaws
This building material is not without its drawbacks. The disadvantages of expanded clay concrete blocks are that during the construction process it is necessary to exercise extreme caution with them, since the hollow varieties are quite fragile. Walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks require exterior finishing, since the raw material does not look very aesthetically pleasing.
It is also worth emphasizing that in Lately Low-quality products of this type often appear on the market. Its use leads to premature failure of recently erected walls, which repels a large number of developers from expanded clay concrete blocks. To avoid getting into an unpleasant situation, you should carefully study all the seller’s documentation before purchasing the material. It must confirm that the products were manufactured in accordance with GOST.
Conclusion
As can be seen from the above, this material has excellent technical characteristics. It is easy to use, quite durable and capable of creating full-fledged competition. modern materials. Walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks retain heat well inside the room and are not prone to mold. The material has proven itself well in use in unheated and damp buildings.
Of course, like any other product, an expanded clay concrete block is not without its drawbacks, therefore, before giving preference to it, you should compare the technical characteristics of the product and the conditions in which it will be used. If we add to this the attentiveness and thoroughness of choosing building blocks, then the chances of encountering problems will be minimized.
Expanded clay concrete is a building material that is one of the lightweight concretes. Its structure includes expanded clay itself as a filler, and the binder can be either cement, lime, or gypsum. In addition, water and sand are included in the mixture in certain proportions. Let's take a closer look at the main features of expanded clay concrete GOST 25820-2014 and the methods of its use in various fields of activity.
Characteristics of expanded clay concrete
The main material - expanded clay, from which this class of concrete is named, is porous with a cellular structure. Due to the size of the fractions, it can take the form of gravel with large components, crushed stone or sand. Products are obtained by firing clay, which acquires whole line characteristics that play an important role in calculating the features of the project being carried out.
One of the most important qualities– this is the strength of the frozen material. It determines the ability finished design withstand the maximum possible loads. It is worth noting that expanded clay concrete GOST 25820-2014 has high strength, despite its lower density/weight, in comparison with heavy types and grades of concrete. The final features of the composition depend largely on the fractions and density of the mixture components and the brand of cement. By analogy with other types of concrete, this one has the property of increasing strength over time.
Density is different important characteristic, which, with a small value, allows you to create lightweight structures with the ability to easily process them. If you buy high-density expanded clay concrete, you will get a highly durable structure, but the surfaces will be difficult to process. Another parameter follows from the previous property - porosity. The material will always have a certain number of micropores, even at maximum possible values density.
It is worth emphasizing that the price of expanded clay concrete largely depends on the combination of these characteristics.
Water resistance is another quality that should be taken into account when planning a structure. The higher the values, the better the frozen mixture will resist pressure. humid environment before it starts to collapse. To determine the parameter, the strength of the saturated substance is compared with the dry one. For expanded clay concrete GOST 25820-2014 this quality is at least 0.8.
The level of thermal conductivity plays important when choosing materials for a project. Therefore, if you need to create an optimal microclimate indoors, regardless of weather variability, it is certainly worth buying expanded clay concrete. For the material in question, the properties will be high level, especially when compared to heavy brands. Using a solution based on porous stone, it is possible to give the structure low thermal conductivity. That is, the surfaces will become an excellent insulator, maintaining a comfortable indoor climate without increasing energy costs. It is possible to build structures with minimum thickness walls and ceilings. Resistance to high temperature influences is one of the qualities that affects the price of expanded clay concrete. Low thermal conductivity and properties of the filler allow finished structures to resist high temperatures for a long time. Manufacturers of expanded clay concrete claim that the building material can withstand heat of a thousand degrees.
The opposite of the previous one is the frost resistance parameter. Thanks to it, the product can repeatedly resist freezing/defrosting. The principle is simple: the structure of expanded clay concrete GOST 25820-2014 contains a small amount of water, which expands when freezing and contributes to the gradual destruction of the structure. When designating this property, the product is assigned a digital value, which is the minimum number of possible freezes/thawings. Generally, the high density of a solution is considered to guarantee its good resistance to the problem described above. This property of a finished structure can be modernized by applying special plaster to the surface.
The volumetric mass of the solution depends on the properties of the filler, thanks to which you can buy expanded clay concrete in three categories: heavy, light and especially light. The first option usually has a strength of 25 MPa with a volumetric mass of 1400 kg/m. Light mixtures are usually more modest and do not exceed values of a thousand units. Particularly light ones are distinguished by a wide range of strength, which can range from 7.5 to 40 MPa and a similar volumetric mass of 600-1800 kg/m.
It is worth emphasizing that the raw material, as well as the systems created with its help, are environmentally friendly. In conjunction with positive characteristics, including low weight with high thermal insulation properties and concrete strength, products of this type have proven themselves in the construction industry. In addition, in comparison with some analogues, the price of expanded clay concrete looks extremely attractive, both for small domestic buildings and for the implementation of serious industrial projects.
Ready-made expanded clay concrete blocks
You can buy expanded clay concrete in the form of ready-made blocks. Products are manufactured using advanced techniques, which simplifies and reduces the cost of the process, but has a positive effect on the product itself. Manufacturers of expanded clay concrete offer many standard sizes, including complex shapes. The geometry is further complicated by the presence of protrusions and grooves on the surface, which ensure the highest possible quality of adhesion between the components of the structure. In many ways, the options for products made from expanded clay concrete are similar to similar elements made from porous or cellular types of concrete.
The building material is an alternative to cellular autoclaved concrete, which is more difficult to produce. The price of concrete is one of the weaknesses, as well as lower load-bearing capacity, weak resistance to cracking and bending loads.
Types of expanded clay concrete
Brands of expanded clay concrete are distinguished depending on the parameters of the mixture, direction of use, density and other qualities. By the way, the price of expanded clay concrete also depends on these features. Let's consider the classification of this material depending on its characteristics.
Before buying concrete, it is important to familiarize yourself with its properties. The blocks already discussed above become one of the main evaluation criteria, that is, several types are distinguished based on their shape: slabs, panels and, in fact, blocks with different geometries. For similar structural elements use the standard composition of expanded clay concrete GOST 25820-2014, that is, water, expanded clay, sand and cement, and most often Portland cement not lower than M400. To improve the water-repellent properties, a hydrophobe is added to the mixture.
Manufacturers of expanded clay concrete produce products in the form of panels, the dimensions of which also meet the requirements of the standard. Typically, serial samples of structural elements have a length of 300-7200 mm and a height of 300-8100 mm. Buying expanded clay concrete in the form of slabs is important when creating internal partitions in rooms, or façade equipment or reinforced concrete aggregates. The structures in question have become widespread due to the presence of a reinforcing frame, which gives outstanding strength characteristics product at reduced weight.
The second way to classify products, which is used by expanded clay concrete manufacturers, is based on the density of the granules. In this case, several types of products are distinguished:
- The first option is dense expanded clay concrete GOST 25820-2014. The density of the material reaches 2000 kg/m3, which allows it to be used as a reliable foundation up to foundations designed for heavy loads;
- the second option is called large-porous or sandless. It consists of a mixture of expanded clay up to 20 mm in diameter, Portland cement grade 300-400 and water. Due to the absence of sand, the density of the frozen mixture is reduced to 1800 kg/m3. The product is used as a raw material for creating walls and monolithic structures;
- Buying porous expanded clay concrete, which is the third type of product, is relevant in a number of cases. The fact is that it can belong to several main types.
Thermal insulation porous has a low density in the range of 400-600 units. It is actively used for insulating finished systems and structures. Structural and thermal insulation is in demand in the manufacture of blocks big size and panels one layer thick. Increased resistance to loads is facilitated by a density of 800-1200. The structural appearance of porous expanded clay concrete according to GOST 25820-2014 with a density of up to 1800 kg/m3 is even stronger. Thanks to high quality used in construction and even shipbuilding.
It is worth emphasizing that the parameters of the products described above directly depend on the characteristics of expanded clay and the brand of cement used in the mixture. The price of expanded clay concrete depends on these same points, as well as production costs.
Classification according to the scope of application of a product largely depends on its shape. That is:
- wall blocks are used for the construction of partitions in low-rise construction;
- foundation ones are able to perform load-bearing functions due to their increased strength;
- partition walls are good for ceilings;
- ventilation systems are used on wet areas, as they prevent the formation of mold and fungi.
It is worth emphasizing that depending on the qualities of the finished material, the price of expanded clay concrete changes, which makes it possible to economically implement a variety of projects.
Brands of expanded clay concrete
Price lists
Companies selling expanded clay concrete in Moscow
Manufacturing plants
M75 is relevant to use when arranging load-bearing elements in industry and residential construction.
The screed is most often poured using M100.
For blocks use M150.
The M200 brand of expanded clay concrete is suitable for creating powerful blocks and floors of buildings.
It is important to use M300 for the construction of engineering format structures for which particularly high demands are placed on operation.
At the same time, for each individual project, grades of expanded clay concrete are selected in strict accordance with the specifics of the future structure.
Manufacturing
One of the most common options for expanded clay concrete is monolithic. For its production it is necessary to correct proportions take expanded clay, lime, cement or building gypsum, sand and water. All components must be thoroughly mixed, so one part of cement with two parts of sand is placed in a concrete mixer. After mixing them, the composition is supplemented with part of the water and three expanded clay. The entire composition is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass is created. In case of excessive dryness, water is added to the concrete mixer; this must be done until the porous material is completely mixed with the wet cement. The resulting raw materials can be poured into pre-prepared formwork.
Manufacturers of expanded clay concrete note that before pouring it is necessary to prevent contact of the mixture with slabs and bricks, as well as similar products. The problem is that he will give them a significant part of the water. To prevent this, you can use simple polyethylene, or mastics or emulsions.
The crystalline hydrate hardens on the second day from the moment of pouring, and the structure gains its original strength in about a month. At the same time, after the first stage it is already possible to create finishing coatings. During the hardening process of the composition, maintaining the desired microclimate has a positive effect. For this purpose, you can cover the filled structure with film and regularly moisten the surface.
We invite you to use great opportunity save a lot of money when selling construction project of any complexity. To do this, it is enough to select expanded clay concrete with suitable characteristics, compare the prices of expanded clay concrete from various suppliers presented in the table on the Price Monitoring portal, and order it on the most favorable terms.
Are you planning to build a house with your own hands? In this case, it’s time to think about choosing high-quality and, importantly, inexpensive building materials. In this article we will talk about one of these materials - concrete prepared with the addition of expanded clay.
Scope of application
The photo shows the consistency of the mortar
Instructions for using solutions with the addition of expanded clay involve the production monolithic walls and floor screeds. In addition, liquid or semi-liquid mixtures are widely used for the production of wall blocks.
You can learn about the features of pouring floor screeds in the relevant articles presented on our portal. In this article we will take a closer look at the technical characteristics of expanded clay concrete blocks and the properties of the material from which they are made.
Construction mortars with the addition of expanded clay and their features
In the photo - a floor screed device with expanded clay as a filler
- Strength– this is one of the most important performance qualities. Structures cast from expanded clay concrete are resistant to mechanical loads, despite their lower weight and lower density.
In accordance with the compressive strength parameters, the material is assigned a certain grade. Selecting a solution based on grade is one of the most important conditions successful construction.
The strength characteristics of structures made using expanded clay depend on the fraction and density of the aggregate and on the brand of cement used in the production of the mixture.
Important: The characteristics of expanded clay concrete are unique, since the strength of structures made on its basis only increases over time.
- Density finished material and products manufactured using it is determined by the ratio of mass to volume. In the case of a mixture of concrete and expanded clay, this parameter is less than 100%.
On the one hand, the higher the density, the stronger the material, and on the other hand, the lower this parameter, the easier it is to machine and the less it weighs. - Porosity is a property primarily related to density. Regardless of the degree of density, there will always be a certain number of micropores in the thickness of expanded clay concrete.
- Water resistance This is another property that should be taken into account when planning the use of concrete with expanded clay aggregate. The higher this indicator, the higher the ability of the material to withstand the destructive effects of water.
Water resistance is determined by the ratio of the strength of a sample saturated with water to the strength of dry samples. This parameter for expanded clay concrete is at least 0.8 units. - Thermal conductivity degree- this is the property that determines how much the temperature in the room will depend on external temperature indicators.
For example, the degree of thermal conductivity of solutions based on cement and expanded clay is several times less than similar parameters characteristic of heavy concrete. As a result, from mortars made with the addition of expanded clay, it is possible to build walls that are less thick than usual, without compromising the energy efficiency of the building as a whole. - High temperature resistance- this is a quality inherent in structures built using expanded clay concrete. On the one hand, due to low thermal conductivity, and on the other hand, due to the characteristics of the filler, structures and structures are able to withstand long-term exposure to critical temperatures up to 1000°C without the formation of cracks.
- Resistant to low temperatures
is a parameter that reflects the ability of a material to withstand critically low temperatures.
All building materials have a certain frost resistance limit and expanded clay concrete is no exception. Moisture, penetrating into the porous structure of the material, freezes and expands. During non-slip freeze/thaw cycles, significant, sometimes irreversible, changes occur in the structure of the material.
As a rule, the denser the solution, the greater the frost resistance of structures built using it.
Important: Parameters of the resistance of expanded clay concrete to negative impact environmental factors can be improved by using protective plasters.
- Volumetric mass of solution– a characteristic depending on the parameters of the filler.
In accordance with this property, expanded clay concrete is divided into three categories: especially light, light and heavy. Typically, the heavy variety is characterized by a volumetric mass of up to 1400 kg/m² with a strength of 25 MPa. Light solutions and products using them have a lower volumetric mass, usually no more than 1000 kg/m².
Particularly lightweight materials made using more porous varieties of expanded clay are characterized by a volumetric mass of 600-1800 kg/m² with strength indicators of 7.5-40 MPa.
Configuration and standard sizes of blocks
Expanded clay concrete blocks produced in accordance with modern technologies, are characterized complex shape and a number of standard sizes.
The complexity of the shapes is explained by the presence of many slot voids providing optimal heat-saving properties. Again, due to the presence of voids, walls built from such material allow less external noise to pass through.
In addition to the presence of voids, the configuration of the blocks requires the presence of ridges and grooves, through which a reliable connection is ensured. The standard dimensions of blocks cast from expanded clay concrete are in many ways similar to the dimensions of wall blocks made from cellular and porous concrete.
Features of blocks made of expanded clay concrete
On the picture - wall block SB-4PR/1
Expanded clay concrete blocks are an analogue and competitor of blocks made using autoclaved cellular concrete.
The structural material has the following advantages:
- affordable price;
- low thermal conductivity;
- high load-bearing capacity, in comparison with autoclaved cellular concrete;
- high bending strength and, as a result, low risk of cracks;
- accuracy of shapes and sizes and, as a result, ease of construction work;
- absence of shrinkage and, as a consequence, the possibility of carrying out finishing works immediately upon completion of construction;
- durability - expanded clay concrete gains strength over time, so after several years, the house you build will be even stronger.
Conclusion
Now you have general idea about what they are mortars, made with the addition of expanded clay and how they can be used for their intended purpose. More useful information you can find it by watching the video in this article.