Foam concrete, also
known as Lightweight Cellular Concrete (LCC), Low Density Cellular Concrete
(LDCC), and in other it can be termed as a cement slurry, minimum of 20%
(per volume) foam entrained into the plastic mortar.
As coarse aggregate is not present in production of foam it can also be termed as foamed cement.also instead of concrete mortar can be called.
400 kg/m3 to 1600
kg/m3 is the generally density of foam concrete.
Substituting
fully or part of the fine aggregate with foam the density can be controlled.
Other names of foamed concrete are cellular lightweight concrete or reduced density concrete, aircrete, foamed concrete, foamcrete,
History
In the early 1920 foam concrete
was discovered and insulation which is called as autoclaved aerated concrete
was produced.
But in the 1950s and 1960s a
detailed study on composition, physical properties and production of foam
concrete is carried out.
After the research in the 1970s and
early 80s few admixtures were developed which led to commercial use of
concrete in construction project.
Netherland was the first country
where it was used to you fill voids and for ground stabilization, the further
research was carried out in Netherland which helped to bring more uses of foam
concrete as a building material.
Continuous form generator is
being used recently generate form concrete. Do phone can be manufactured by
blending of foaming agent with compressed air called as a
"aircrete"or "foamcreate".
With the help of this
construction material foundation sub floors ,domes and arches can be built.
Construction fabric can also be reinforced.
This material is fireproof, insect proof, and waterproof. It provides notable thermal and acoustic insulation and can be cut,drilled, carved, and shaped with working tools.
Manufacturing:-
Foamed concrete generally comprise of cement
slurry aur fly ash and sand with water. but for very light weight mix some
suppliers recommend your cement and water.
After that in a concrete mixing plant
this slurry for the combined with synthetic aerated form.
Foaming agents which is used to create
the foam while mixing with water and air from generator, foaming agent that is
used should be able to produce air bubble and also resist to the physical and
chemical process of mixing placing and hardening.
Foam mixture of formed concrete is poured and
pumped into different kind of mould or directly into the structural elements.
The foam which is present in it allows slurry to flow freely due to the
thixotropic behaviour it can be pulled easily in any mode
To solidify the viscous material requires 24 hours
or as little as 2 hours if the temperature is up to 70 degree C.
Once a concrete is solidified it can be released
which is formed produce from the mould .
With the help of cutting machine new forms of application in concrete manufacturing which is that the concrete cake cut into two blocks of different sizes.
Properties
As
compared to autoclave aerated concrete foam concrete is relatively versatile
building material and production of the foam concrete is it cheap with
respect to autoclaved aerated concrete.
Also fly ash is utilised in the slurry of foam concrete
compound which is the Still cheaper and also impact on environment is less.
Foam concrete can be produced from 200 kg per metre cube to 1600 kg per metre
cube depending on the use of construction.
Lighter density products may be cut into different sizes.Its
high thermal and acoustical insulating qualities it can used in different kind
of construction.
Applications:-
The dry density of foam concrete which can be manufacture 400 to 1600 kg per metre square. While the 7 days strength will be 1 to 10 respectively.
With its wide quality and features which is thermal and acoustical insulation it can be used in fire resistant and it is ideal for wide range of purposes such as insulating floor , void filling,It can also be used in trench reinstatement.
Some extra application of foam concrete :-
1. bridge approaches / embankments
2. pipeline abandonment / annular fill
3. trench backfill
4. precast blocks
5. precast wall elements / panels
6. cast-in-situ / cast-in-place walls
7. insulating compensation laying
8. insulation floor screeds
9. insulation roof screeds
10. sunken portion filling
11. trench reinstatement
12. sub-base in highways
13. filling of hollow blocks
14. prefabricated insulation boards
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