
Foam
concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the world,
thousands of homes are built annually with this material.
Also called
foam concrete, it is lightweight and mostly used for thicker works.
Foam
concrete is made in the form of slabs or blocks, and in this way, it is used
more than anything else in the construction of homes, commercial or residential
buildings.
What is foam concrete?
It is a lightweight concrete that contains
many uniformly distributed air voids. The main composition of foam concrete
consists of cement, refractory ash, synthetic fibers, foaming agent, and some
other additives.
The
structure of aerated concrete contains millions of tiny air bubbles, creating a
closed honeycomb-shaped system with microscopic dimensions.
Because of
this special structure, it has very good water permeability, which helps
aerated concrete structures to have very good sound insulation, heat
insulation, and fire resistance.
A
characteristic that distinguishes this concrete is its specific weight or the
amount of air per cubic meter of the material. The lower the weight, the higher
the amount of air per cubic meter, which gives concrete its insulating ability.
The
production of foamed concrete begins with the preparation and mixing of raw
materials, then the pieces are prepared and the molds are engineered where the
materials are made, for subsequent stacking and packaging.
Another
alternative process in the creation of concrete, consisting of the use of
foaming agents and the use of the heat of hydration used in preparation. This
technology provides excellent results in terms of mechanical resistance and
thermal insulation.
Advantages of foam concrete
Foam
concrete has great physical properties that combine insulation and resistance.
It has many benefits that make it one of the best alternatives in construction.
These are
some of the benefits it offers.
Quick assembly
Its low
density and lightness allow for faster mass synthesis. It can be operated
easily as it is not complicated to cut.
compressive strength
It varies
depending on the density of the material. The resistance will be higher the
density. They can even build multi-level group housing.
Resistant to water absorption
This type of
concrete has a structure that makes water absorption much slower. It acts as a
moisture regulator that absorbs excess moisture or softens dry air. In this
way, it creates a pleasant atmosphere in the house.
It is a great thermal insulation
As mentioned
earlier, it maintains a nice and cool indoor environment, both in winter and in
summer.
Thus, in
times of cold, the interior will be warm, while in summer we will be able to
keep the interior cool. Of course, this leads to significant savings in air
conditioning and heating.
economic
Foamed
concrete weighs between 10% and 87% less than conventional concrete. This
significant weight reduction represents a significant cost saving for
foundation and structure.
Transportation
It is a
light material, weighing half the weight of other similar materials. This makes
transportation tasks much easier. Also, the work is much easier (cutting,
nailing, sawing, etc.).
durability
Foamy
concrete has no time as an enemy, it coexists. It is as solid as rock and does
not decay.
acoustic absorption
In this way,
the sound bounces back to its original place. Concrete absorbs a small part,
but the noise that gets inside is minimal.
cleverness
Thanks to
its ease of manufacture, it can be made in different ways: arches, pyramids,
corners, etc. Thus, the aesthetic effect of the buildings increases.
fire-resistant
Because of
its low thermal conductivity, the heat flux of foam concrete is very low. It is
ideal in industrial, agricultural, or administrative buildings.
Dead Load Reduction
It is
necessary for areas with high seismic risk. In the event of an earthquake, the
broken walls will fall, but it will not cause serious damage like other
traditional materials.
Applications and uses
The main
application of foam concrete is in the construction field, in the development
of houses and buildings. It is also used in works such as grouting, binders,
subfloors, decks, and preformed slabs and slabs that are used as the basis for
paving.
Foam
concrete is used in the form of roofs, lintels, floors, and joints that meet
all requirements of business and building construction.
It is widely
used as a filler for bricklayers in walls, as an insulating material for empty
blocks, and any other filler that requires high thermal and sound insulation properties.
It is also
used as a heat insulator on floors and roofs and as a hardwood flooring for
tennis courts.
Foam concrete properties
• Reduce the
dead load: The use of foam concrete can be observed in any work, and the
lighter weight loads can be observed, and this is very important in high
seismic risk sites. When a seismic event occurs, walls that crack and fall will
not cause as severe damage as other conventional materials. In addition, due to
the low-density level and low weight, the handling of foam concrete is very
simple, including transportation, alignment, and placement. All this makes the
construction execution time not very long.
• Speed of
construction: The absence of coarse aggregate and the rolling effect caused by
the pores in the concrete gives a great consistency to the material. Vibration
is not required because, in pouring, the foam concrete is evenly distributed
and fills the voids with its density, in this way the wall can be poured
on-site and in one procedure, making the construction speed accelerate.
• Thermal
insulator: It is the coefficient of resistance to heat flow. This is one of the
most prominent characteristics of this substance. The level of thermal
insulation increases or decreases inversely with the density of concrete.
• Fire
protection: Buildings are classified according to the heat production potential
of their components and their average content. This type of concrete does not
have fuel properties, and this is due to the large percentage of water
contained in it because it can be disposed of before the accident.
• Acoustic
properties: This type of concrete is very effective in reducing noise in
concrete walls
movable
bulb. This is due to the proportionality of the weight of the wall, the lighter
the wall, the greater the sound insulation, taking into account the uniformity
in the distribution of voids, because this is what isolates high and low
frequencies. Concrete provides a sound-absorbing rebound effect, making it an
effective sound insulator, and is used in partition walls or facades.
•
Durability: This material behaves in a similar way to conventional concrete,
but because it is more porous, it can be more susceptible to physical
accidents. When used below the original soil level, it should contain an additive
that helps prevent damage from contact with water. Concrete is usually
protected with plaster. When installing the material, the same care must be
taken for temperature-induced contractions. Possible mechanical damage that may
occur can be avoided by using special polyethylene fibers for this type of
concrete.
Why choose foam concrete?
Foam
concrete is one of the best building materials on the market. It is a very
economical and feasible option for any business, especially for buildings and
homes.
The numerous
advantages and benefits of this material make it ideal for the construction of
any structure.
For such
concrete, it is not necessary to make an internal insulator to complete it,
since its structure consists of thousands of air micro-cells, which gives it
the property of thermal insulation. Builders prefer this concrete for this
insulation, which is also known as split insulation.
Thanks to
this property, this material prevents any heat loss, acting as a container for
heat in the winter and as a barrier to it in the summer, it is an excellent air
conditioner.
This
concrete has the peculiarity of being an element that breathes. It allows water
vapor from daily tasks and occupants to pass through. This is vital to prevent
moisture damage and condensation such as fungi.
Another very
important feature is that this substance is classified according to its
behavior with fire. This means that it is fireproof and completely impermeable
to toxic gases and smoke. In the event of a fire, the concrete wall has the
property of fire resistance for about six hours.
The material
can be laid quickly and easily, due to which its blocks are assembled with
mortar. Likewise, the shape and light weight of the blocks allow the work to be
highly efficient and high performance.