Polystyrene foam concrete blocks - general information,

Expanded polystyrene concrete belonging to lightweight concrete has unique properties and can also be used for various jobs. It can easily compete with more popular materials, such as aerated concrete and foam concrete.

General information

The material is composite, and its basis is Portland cement. In addition, it includes a porous filler in the form of polystyrene granules and additives that perform the air entraining function. Due to this, the blocks made of expanded polystyrene concrete harmoniously combine a high load-carrying capacity with excellent thermal and sound insulation properties.

Very often the composite material is used during the construction of cottages, as well as during the superstructure of buildings.

With it you can:

• to carry out heat insulation work;
• close up various joints;
• create small architectural forms.

The main advantages of this material over competitors:

1. Higher strength characteristics (with equal marks).
2. Resistance to bending or stretching.
3. The absence of various microorganisms inside the structure, which is achieved due to the low maintenance content of water in polystyrene concrete.
4. Low thermal conductivity (constructions made from such a material will be warmer than wood).
5. Higher frost resistance.
6. Resistance to the effects of various corrosive environments, including solvents, alkaline and acidic solutions, as well as gasoline.

I would particularly like, of course, to note the 4th item, in our time, heat-saving properties come to the fore.

Tip: the use of polystyrene foam helps to save up to 50% of funds compared to gas-silicate or foam concrete blocks.

Bulk density and material density

An interesting feature of the product is the dependence of its characteristics on the bulk density of concrete in it. Current construction needs assume the use of materials with a mass below 600 kg / m³.

Expanded polystyrene blocks can even be produced with a bulk density below 200 kg / m³, which significantly increases their thermal insulation properties. Therefore, at present, experts are trying to improve the material more and more, giving it new characteristics, as well as creating construction systems with its use. Although the price of the material is higher than that of foam concrete, its properties are much better.

Expanded polystyrene used as a filler of such blocks, has a bulk density in the range of 10-25kg / m³that does not particularly affect the final strength characteristics of concrete. The production of a finely porous concrete skeleton is possible due to the fact that the foamed polystyrene foam grains are small (0.5-3.5 mm).

Application

Blocks with similar fillers are used in the construction of walls of external or partition type. (See also the article Putty for concrete: features.)

Vertical loads such walls are divided into:

1. Carriers, which are used in the construction of low 1-2-storey premises of production type, as well as in residential buildings up to 3 floors high. Blocks for such walls should have a density class of D400, and compressive strength of B1.
2. Self-supportingat the same time the number of floors of buildings is insignificant for them, the main thing is that they are carried out with floor-by-floor support for the floor. In this case, the minimum allowable density of the D300 blocks, and the compressive strength is B0.5.
3. Hinged, they can be used for buildings with different number of floors. The minimum allowable density of concrete - D

Most often, polystyrene concrete is used as:

• insulation material for homes;
• hollow elements in the construction of prefabricated monolithic walls;
• full and hollow blocks;
• tongue-and-groove partitions;
• plates for insulation of roofs, facades;
• material for the construction of small architectural forms;
• way of monolithing joints of external panels.

Finishing and masonry

When using polystyrene concrete for the construction of walls, they need additional external protective and decorative lining and interior decoration. In both cases, the cement-sand mixture can be used. (See also the article Aerated concrete facing: how to do.)

The minimum thickness of the outer layer is 15 mm, the inner one is 20. In addition, a brick can be used for the outer facing, then the thickness of such a layer will reach 120 mm.

The instruction manual allows the use of other finishing materials. The main thing is that they fully comply with the requirements for operational, protective and decorative indicators.

During the laying of polystyrene concrete blocks with their own hands, special glue can be used to dissolve. If you decide to stop at the first, you must remember that the maximum allowable thickness of the seams with this laying is 12 mm. The composition of the solution includes cement, polystyrene, water and some additives.

Characteristics of the material

Polystyrene concrete blocks have the following advantages:

• no need for installation of insulation;
• reducing the thickness of each wall by 30-40 cm;
• decrease in the general estimate for construction work;

Tip: the use of the material significantly reduces the noise from the street, as it has good sound insulation performance.

The main properties of the material:

• flammability class G1;
• density indicators are in the range of 15-600kg / m³, depends on the amount of concrete in the composition;
• good frost resistance;
• strength is in the range from B0.5 to B 2.5, depending on the amount of concrete;
• tensile strength class B12,5;
• thermal conductivity in the range of 0.55-0.12 W / m.

Conclusion

The use of expanded polystyrene concrete in construction makes it possible to erect buildings with a low thermal conductivity, which saves on their heating and reduces the cost of maintaining the object.

It belongs to the class of lightweight concrete, so you should not consider it a powerful structural material. At the same time, it turns out quite reliable houses with a height of 1-2 floors. The video in this article will help you find additional information on this topic.

And those readers who are interested in issues such as diamond drilling holes in concrete and, in addition, cutting reinforced concrete with diamond circles, we suggest reading other articles on this portal.