What is the difference between gas concrete and gas

Characteristics of materials that were previously used for the construction of houses are currently not so attractive. Therefore, now comes the century of new ones, one of which is cellular concrete.

This material also has several varieties, the most popular of which are gas silicate blocks and aerated concrete blocks. This article will help you understand the main differences between them, as well as help with determining the most suitable option for you.

For a start, I would like to note that there are quite a few differences between them, and their price is very different from each other, for example, gas silicate is one and a half times more expensive than aerated concrete.

Composition of materials

To understand the difference between aerated concrete and gas silicate, consider below how they are produced:

1. The main substance of aerated concrete is Portland cement. In addition, the composition of this material includes quartz sand, blast furnace slags, as well as waste from the enrichment of various ores. The use of the autoclave for mixing is not required.

1. The basis for the manufacture of gas silicate are binders - lime or cement, which are combined with the help of fine quartz sand and water. After mixing these components using aluminum powder, which creates a gas-forming effect, the swelling procedure is performed.

This leads to a uniform distribution of air bubbles throughout the mixture. This procedure is carried out in an autoclave, after which the mixture hardens under the influence of high temperatures and pressure.

Tip: using aerated or gas silicate blocks for the construction of walls, you get a smooth construction and neat seams, because They are made in certain sizes.

Arguments in favor of gas silicate

Experts say that gas silicate have better strength characteristics than gas concrete. In addition, their drawdown during operation is less, which is possible due to the relatively small bulk weight - 400-500kg / m³.

Moreover, this density allows not only to reduce the thickness of the external walls, but also significantly reduce the weight of the whole structure, and, accordingly, the pressure on the foundation. It can be concluded that the foundation can be made a little smaller, which will significantly reduce the overall estimate for construction work.

I would also like to note the following advantages of gas silicate blocks:

• do not contain harmful substances in their composition, therefore, are completely environmentally friendly;
• good strength from 10 to 50kg / cm²;
• when using them, there is no need for additional thermal insulation;
• due to the cellular structure, they have high vapor permeability, which allows the walls to "breathe";
• due to the presence in the composition of lime and cement, it interacts well with finishing materials of similar composition;
• do not burn;
• perfectly tolerate temperature drops;
• easily amenable to any kind of processing;
• do not undergo rotting and corrosion processes.

The presence of these qualities, as well as two varieties (smooth and tongue-and-groove), allows gas silicate blocks to have a wide range of uses. They can be used both in low-rise construction (as a material for walls and floors), and in high-rise ones. In addition, they are used during the construction of various industrial facilities.

Arguments in favor of aerated concrete

Теперь рассмотрим, чем газобетон отличается от газосиликата (читайте также статью «Саморезы по бетону: параметры выбора»).

This material also boasts a number of positive qualities:

• environmentally friendly;
• has a low specific weight;
• low thermal conductivity;
• fire safety;
• easy to process;
• tolerates low temperatures.

1. For blocks of aerated concrete, a large volume with a relatively low weight is typical, which makes it possible to refuse to use heavy equipment during installation.
2. The high thermal insulation qualities of this type of cellular concrete help reduce heating costs.. It should be remembered that the instruction recommends using as a material for walls only blocks with a high density (above 400 kg / m).³). If this parameter is lower, it is better to use them as thermal insulation.
3. Thanks to a good frost resistance index, aerated concrete can be used in temperate countries, as it is able to withstand up to 100 freeze / thaw cycles without losing its characteristics.
4. Another advantage of this material when used in countries with cold climates is the method of its installation.. The fact is that the use of an aqueous solution of cement grades M400 or M500 in conditions of low winter temperatures is unacceptable. But when installing aerated concrete blocks, an adhesive mixture is used with its own hands, which is resistant to frost, which helps to avoid the appearance of so-called seams in the joints. "Cold bridges".

Tip: it is best to use such blocks for the construction of load-bearing walls in the construction of low-rise buildings, as well as to create interior walls and partitions in buildings of any height.

External differences

Consider what could be the visual difference of aerated concrete blocks from gas silicate. Due to the fact that Portland cement is part of aerated concrete blocks, they acquire a grayish tint, while gas silicate blocks are whitish due to the presence of lime.

In addition, when selecting blocks of cellular concrete, one should pay attention to how they were made - with or without the use of an autoclave system.

Conclusion

From the article it became clear that the main difference between the two materials is their composition, where in one case Portland cement (aerated concrete) is used, and cement and lime (gas silicate) in the other. In addition, the latter, due to its structure, can be used not only in low-rise construction, but also in high-rise construction. Visually, the materials also differ from each other - aerated concrete looks darker than its counterpart (find out here how flush-mounted concrete is installed in the wall).

The video in this article will help you find additional information on this topic.