Types of concrete blocks - classification and application.

Throughout its history, people have used various blocks for the construction of buildings and auxiliary structures. The concrete block, as a structural element, appeared more than 100 years ago and at the moment this material occupies up to 90% of the construction market. They can be made both industrially and with their own hands.

Directions on which block production is conducted

Let's start with the fact that the material is different in composition.

At the moment there are 2 general directions in the development of the concrete industry - the production of structures made of heavy concrete and light concrete blocks.

• Heavy concretes are widely represented in the form of foundation sections FBS. As well as structures used in road construction, such as for example the concrete block B 5.
• Lightweight concrete blocks on the market are represented in a wide variety of shapes and materials.. But, in general, they are divided into wall, insulating and partitioning structures.

Important: lightweight structures are divided into 2 main groups, these are hollow concrete blocks (having geometrically regular, designed cavities) and filled or monolithic.

Heavy Concrete Products

This type of blocks, as a rule, is made in the form of a single monolith and has a rather serious weight. For the most part, they are used as foundation and support structures.

Distinctive features of PBS

• Abbreviation FBS means - the foundation block wall, the parameters of the product are characterized by a digital designation consisting of 3 numbers. All data according to GOST 13579-78 are indicated in decimeters. For example, FBS 24 4 6 T, would mean a monolithic product of a length of 240 cm, its width will be 40 cm and a height of 60 cm. The letter "T", in this case means the type of composition, heavy concrete.
• Most of these structures are made on the basis of high-quality types of cement and have a strength class from B7 to B15. Frost resistance and water permeability also depend on the strength class of a concrete product. In addition, almost all products have internal reinforcement, with the exception of small complementary structures.
• Depending on the purpose and design load, the product can be reinforced with strained or not strained metal-roll. Strained called pre-drawn or hardened steel. Accordingly, the non-stressed metal is not processed at all. High strength steel A1 - A111 steel grades are used for this.

A few words about road construction

In road construction, block products can be used for arranging auxiliary structures, such as drainage systems and drainage systems, this is a concrete block B5 and a concrete block B 9. So as the basis for the roadbed in the form of small octagonal plates, a concrete block B 8.

Important: the concrete block B 8 is a small reinforced concrete slab of 500x500x80 mm, in the corners it is equipped with metal fixings for coupling. In addition to road needs, it is used to strengthen the channels on rivers, when installing pipelines and bridges.

Constructions of light and cellular types of concrete

The modern market is filled with a large amount of light block material. All manufacturers vied with each other for praising the merits of their products and for not knowledgeable people, it can be difficult to understand this sea of ​​proposals.

Important: all light-concrete blocks according to the production method are divided into autoclave and without autoclave. Autoclaves are dried at high pressure and high temperature, the price is somewhat higher, but the quality is better. Plus they can not be done with their own hands at home.

Aerated concrete and its derivatives

Aerated concrete is one of the types of cellular material, it has a porous structure. The closest relatives of this material are gas-silicate and gas-ash concrete blocks. Instructions for the production of them about the same, the differences lie in the composition of the product.

The principle of production of this material is based on the yeast effect. A certain amount of baking powder is added to the cement or lime paste, due to which the mass gains air and rises like yeast dough.

The basis of aerated concrete is Portland cement. Gas silicate or silicate blocks are made using lime mixed with quartz sand. In addition to cement and lime, large porous filler in the form of ash is introduced into gas ash blocks. The baking powder and foaming agent in all cases is aluminum powder.

Tip: if you are interested in the quality and durability of the structure, then it is better to buy the material made in an autoclave way.

As for the characteristics, these blocks have high heat and sound insulation. The size of the products exceeds the dimensions of a standard brick many times, so the time required for laying is less, plus the products are light in weight and have high vapor permeability. But note that these hollow concrete blocks have a serious hygroscopicity and require high-quality waterproofing cladding.

Foam concrete

Foam concrete block produced by a different technology. It may include cement or cement with quartz sand. It is obliged by porous structure to whipped frothy substance. Both compositions, initially, are prepared separately and only at the final stage of production are combined into a single solution.

Both structural and heat-insulating blocks can be made of this material. But initially it was developed as a heat insulator. According to the characteristics of heat and sound insulation, it is similar to gas silicate, but has closed pores and low hygroscopicity. For wet rooms this is a plus, but when erecting a supporting frame, additional ventilation will be needed, since the walls do not breathe.

Polystyrene based material

Polystyrene concrete blocks are made of cement-sand mixture with the addition of foamed polystyrene. The result is a stronger substance, since instead of air polystyrene foam acts as the main filler.

In the industrial version, crushed or granulated polystyrene is added to the composition. In the production at home with their own hands, they often take foam granules. This is done from savings, since the price of foam plastic is much lower.

Constructions on the basis of expanded clay

Expanded clay is made of special clay, by its foaming and firing in drum furnaces. The result is an environmentally friendly, durable, durable porous material. By production of blocks, expanded clay acts as a large filler. In this case, cement-sand mixture is taken as an astringent.

At the moment it is the most popular material for home production. The strength and, accordingly, the weight of the structure are directly dependent on the percentage ratio of the binding mixture and light, porous expanded clay. All over the world, this material is considered one of the most environmentally friendly.

Use of gypsum

Gypsum has been used as a building material for hundreds of years; it is certainly losing in competition with modern materials, but due to low cost, simple production technology and ecological cleanliness, wall gypsum concrete blocks are still popular, especially when installing walls.

Arbolite constructions

This material was popular in the middle of the 20th century. Instructions for the production of such units is deservedly considered the easiest. In fact, it is a mixture of cement, sand and sawdust. The result is a durable array that has an enviable vapor permeability and environmental cleanliness.

According to the characteristics of strength and noise absorption coefficient, arbolit is not much inferior to natural wood, but unlike it it is not subject to mold and rotting, and pests are not afraid of it. Although the level of thermal insulation, it is somewhat inferior to modern materials, plus the weight here is much higher.

It is not profitable to produce it on an industrial scale, since, in spite of simple technology and relatively inexpensive components, the maturation of the finished product takes at least 1 month. But at home arbolit is quite suitable for the construction of outbuildings or interior partitions.

On the video in this article you can find a lot of interesting little things.

Conclusion

As you can see from the above, universal building materials do not exist. In each case, it is necessary to take into account not only the cost, but also a number of related factors.