Clay concrete - features of the material. Composition and proportions for preparing the solution. Mineral fillers. Clay concrete is the highlight of the material. composition and proportions for Composition types of clay block preparation method

Not everyone knows about this material, so it usually raises many questions among novice builders. However, in fact, everything is very simple - the hero of this article is better known as adobe (a mixture of clay and straw). In this article we will take a closer look at what adobe concrete is and its use.

Blocks from the material in question

Features of the material

It would seem like clay construction material turned out to be a thing of the past, but with the development of environmental construction in Lately it began to be actively used again. The fact is that finely ground clay is a good astringent and preservative.

If you dilute it with water and add a filler to the solution, for example, plant fibers or sawdust, you can get an excellent and environmentally friendly thermal insulation material. For example, such a mixture is often used to fill hollow slag and expanded clay concrete blocks or as insulating plaster.

Also, gypsum, lime or even cement are sometimes added to the mixture, which makes clay concrete more durable. This allows it to be used as a load-bearing material in the construction of environmentally friendly houses.

The volumetric mass of the material depends on the ratio of the ingredients. The optimal figure is considered to be 550-600 kg per cubic meter.

House made from the described material

There is an opinion that such material can rot and is also a fire hazard, since it contains straw or sawdust. However, this is just speculation, since chopped plant stems and sawdust in a clay liquid solution swell and are well enveloped in clay, which not only binds them reliably, but also preserves them.

As for the fire hazard, the filler begins to smolder only when exposed to an open flame, for example, a gas flame, for several minutes. As a result, the fire safety of the material is even higher than that of some more traditional materials used in construction.

Straw for making material

Advantages

The growing popularity of the material is explained by its following advantages:

  • Contribute to the formation of a microclimate favorable to humans. Clay is able to absorb and release moisture faster and much more quickly. larger volume than traditional building materials. Moreover, this does not affect the strength of the material.
  • Accumulates heat. Thanks to this property, the material can create comfortable conditions in housing even under conditions of large daily temperature changes.
  • Reusability, to do this, the material just needs to be soaked in water.
  • Ideal for DIY home construction. The material does not require the use of construction equipment and expensive equipment. The technology for working with it is accessible even to inexperienced builders.
  • Clay protects wood and other organic materials from rotting. If treated with it wooden walls, then they will not be affected by either fungus or insects.
  • Clay purifies the air, absorbing pollutants.
  • Low price material. Thanks to this, construction using clay is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical.

Note!
At making a lung material with a density of less than 500-600 kg per cubic meter, the material must be dried.
Otherwise, the straw will remain wet for a long time and will eventually begin to rot.

Masonry made from the material in question

Flaws

Of course, along with its advantages, clay concrete also has some disadvantages:

  • The strength is less than 600 kg per cubic meter, as a result of which nails and dowels do not hold in it. Plastering can only be done using reinforcement.
  • When the solution dries, significant shrinkage occurs.

Preparation of material

Composition and proportions

To prepare durable and “warm” material, the following components are used:

Components Quantity per 1 m3 Sawdust and chopped straw 200 kg Slaked lime 70 kg Building plaster 30 kg Clay 300 kg Water 350 l

Clay for material

Preparation of the solution

You can prepare the solution in a regular concrete mixer.

The instructions look like this:

  • Before you start preparing the solution, you need to prepare the straw fiber. Its length should not exceed the thickness of the material. For example, if the solution will be used to pour into formwork for concrete with a thickness of 20 cm, then the length of the fiber should also be no more than 20 cm.
  • Then water is added to the concrete mixer and lime is poured into it. The contents are thoroughly mixed.
  • Next, straw fiber for concrete and sawdust is poured.
  • After the filler has soaked, gypsum is added.
  • IN last resort Finely ground clay is gradually added with constant stirring.

Expanded clay

Mineral fillers

In many ways, the characteristics of the material depend on the filler. Therefore, experts recommend using various mineral porous fillers instead of straw fiber to improve the thermophysical properties.

For example, the following is great for these purposes:

  • Foam glass;
  • Expanded clay;
  • Pumice;
  • Expanded perlite;
  • Volcanic tuff.

It must be said that the correct ratio of mineral fillers will completely solve the problem of shrinkage.

If we compare clay concrete based on mineral filler with clay fiber concrete, the vapor permeability coefficient of the former is several times higher, which reduces the likelihood of condensation forming in the wall.

Now let's take a closer look at the above types of fillers.

Expanded clay structure

Expanded clay

It is an inexpensive and lightweight aggregate made in the form of granules. Its feature is good strength, despite the fact that the density is 250-800 kg/m3.

Expanded clay is produced by firing low-melting clay at temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius. As a result of the release of a gaseous substance inside the granules, the clay swells. As a result, expanded clay has a porous structure that represents frozen foam, but the shell gives the granules high strength.

Foam glass

Foam glass

Foam glass is artificial material, reminiscent of pumice, with a density of 100-700 kg per cubic meter. The process of making it involves swelling ground glass, which is mixed with a small amount of limestone, charcoal or other materials that are capable of releasing gas when the glass softens.

Expanded perlite

Expanded perlite

Expanded perlite is also made by firing volcanic glassy rocks. During the firing process at a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius, water evaporates and perlite increases up to 20 times.

The bulk density of perlite is 60 kg per cubic meter, and the thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.045 W/m K.

Volcanic tuff

Volcanic tuff

Volcanic tuff is the name given to rocks formed as a result of the solidification of volcanic eruption products - pumice, ash, etc., which were subsequently cemented and compacted.

Pumice

This material is porous volcanic glass, formed during the solidification of medium and acidic lavas, which release gas. The density of pumice is in the range of 500 -750 kg per cubic meter.

Advice!
The clay solution can be poured into formwork, like ordinary concrete, or made into blocks for building walls.
When pouring, the mixture must be compacted.

In the photo - cork chips

Lightweight clay cork concrete

Among organic fillers, in addition to straw and sawdust Cork chips are often used. The advantages of this material include low bulk density. As for the disadvantages, this filler is quite expensive, in addition, the compressive strength of cork is significantly lower than expanded clay.

It must be said that in construction stores You can find dry mixtures that contain the following components:

  • Crushed clay;
  • Cork chips;
  • Straw fiber;
  • Small amount of cellulose.

This mixture is most often used as thermal insulation when constructing walls or plaster. Before use, the mixture is diluted in water.

The density of clay cork concrete is 300-450 kg per cubic meter. Thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.07-0.08 W/m K.

Conclusion

Recently, clay has been increasingly used in a variety of areas of construction and for various purposes, as it has many advantages. The only thing to really get quality material, you need to properly prepare adobe concrete with your own hands, choosing suitable components for it.

From the video in this article you can get Additional information on this topic.

The book introduces readers to foreign experience in the construction of structures made of clay concrete. It discusses issues of improving its properties, designing parts of soil buildings, methods of protecting clay surfaces from atmospheric influences etc. The book combines theory with concrete practical recommendations. It will be useful to design engineers, builders, architects, private developers, as well as students of construction specialties. The book is beautifully illustrated, which enhances its practical significance.

Preface
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction
1.1. General information
1.2. Historical reference
1.3. Disadvantages of clay soils and advantages of raw clay materials
1.4. Improving the indoor climate
1.4.1. General information
1.4.2. The effect of air humidity on health
1.4.3. The influence of air exchange on air humidity
1.4.4. The ability of clay concrete to regulate humidity
1.5. Prejudicial attitude towards raw clay materials

2. Properties of clay soils and clay concrete
2.1. Basic properties
2.1.1. General information
2.1.2. Mineral composition of clay soils
2.1.3. Dust, sand, gravel
2.1.4. Grain composition of clay soils
2.1.5. Composition of the organic part of soils
2.1.6. Forms of water in soils
2.1.7. Porosity
2.1.8. Specific surface area
2.1.9. Density
2.2. Test methods for clay soils
2.2.1. General information
2.2.2. Determination of the granulometric composition of clayey soils using hydrometric and sieve methods
2.2.3. Determination of soil moisture
2.2.4. Simplified Test Methods
2.3. Water influence
2.3.1. General information
2.3.2. Swelling and shrinkage of clay soils
2.3.3. Determination of linear shrinkage
2.3.4. Plastic
2.3.5. Capillary suction
2.3.6. Water resistance
2.3.7. Alternate wetting and drying
2.3.8. Erosion due to rain and frost
2.3.9. Drying time
2.4. Effect of water vapor
2.4.1. General information
2.4.2. Steam diffusion through adobe concrete structure
2.4.3. Hygroscopic equilibrium humidity
2.4.4. Condensation Formation
2.5. Thermal conductivity
2.5.1. General information
2.5.2. Coefficient of thermal conductivity
2.5.3. Specific heat(heat capacity coefficient)
2.5.4. Heat capacity
2.5.5. Thermal diffusivity coefficient
2.5.6. Heat resistance
2.5.7. Thermal expansion
2.5.8. Fire resistance
2.6. Strength
2.6.1. Tensile strength
2.6.2. Compressive Strength
2.6.3. Dry tensile strength
2.6.4. Dry flexural strength
2.6.5. Adhesion strength
2.6.6. Abrasion resistance
2.6.7. Elastic modulus
2.7. pH value
2.8. Radioactivity

3. Preparing clay soil
3.1. General information
3.2. Preparing the soil and preparing the mixture
3.3. Screening
3.4. Enrichment
3.5. aging
3.6. Weightening

4. Improving the properties of clay concrete
4.1. General information
4.2. Reducing shrinkage of adobe concrete
4.2.1. General information
4.2.2. Sand consumption
4.2.3. Plasticizing additives
4.2.4. Fiber additives
4.2.5. Constructive activities
4.3. Increased water resistance
4.3.1. General information
4.3.2. Mineral binders
4.3.3. Additives of animal origin
4.3.4. Mixed Supplements
4.3.5. Herbal supplements
4.3.6. Synthetic additives
4.4. Increased tensile strength
4.4.1. General information
4.4.2. Mixing time
4.4.3. Clay content
4.4.4. Supplements
4.5. Improved compressive strength
4.5.1. General information
4.5.2. Optimization of particle size distribution
4.5.3. Preparation of initial soils
4.5.4. Seal
4.5.5. Mineral supplements
4.5.6. Organic supplements
4.5.7. Fiber additives
4.6. Increased abrasion resistance
4.7. Increased thermal conductivity
4.7.1. General information
4.7.2. Lightweight clay fiber concrete
4.7.3. Lightweight clay concrete with mineral filler
4.7.4. Lightweight clay cork concrete
4.7.5. Lightweight clay wood concrete
4.7.6. Clay-gas concrete

5. Construction of walls made of heavy clay concrete
5.1. General information
5.2. Formwork
5.3. Hand tool and equipment
5.4. Laying clay concrete mixture
5.5. Arrangement of openings
5.6. New ways to build walls
5.6.1. The Kassel method of constructing monolithic adobe structures
5.6.2. Mechanized technology
5.6.3. Frame houses with walls made of monolithic cement soil
5.6.4. Single-sided and permanent formwork
5.7. Monolithic adobe dome
5.8. Drying
5.9. Labor costs
5.10. Heat transfer resistance
5.11. Surface treatment

6. Clay brick masonry technology
6.1. General information
6.2. Retrospective review
6.3. Making clay concrete bricks
6.4. Optimal composition mixtures
6.5. Clay brick masonry
6.6. Surface treatment
6.7. Fastening to mud brick walls

7. Products and structures made of clay concrete
7.1. General information
7.2. Blocks
7.3. Plates
7.4. Floor products
7.5. Vault designs
7.6. Clay straw shingles
7.7. Floor tiles

8. Technology of masonry from plastic clay concrete products
8.1. General information
8.2. Traditional technologies masonry made of plastic raw clay materials
8.3. Clay loaves
8.4. Technology of masonry from clay products
8.4.1. General information
8.4.2. Production of raw clay products
8.4.3. Optimization of clay concrete composition
8.4.4. Masonry made of plastic products
8.4.5. Wall options
8.4.6. Dome masonry

9. Construction of adobe walls of frame buildings
9.1. General information
9.2. Traditional methods of constructing adobe walls
9.3. Mechanized method applying clay concrete mixture
9.4. Roller walls
9.5. Increasing the thermal protection of walls
9.6. Modern technology of masonry from clay products

10. Construction of walls made of lightweight clay concrete
10.1. General information
10.2. Formwork
10.3. Clay concrete walls with organic filler (straw)
10.4. Walls made of clay concrete with organic filler (shavings, sawdust)
10.5. Walls made of clay concrete with mineral filler
10.5.1. General information
10.5.2. Clay pumice concrete walls
10.5.3. Walls made of clay-ceramsite concrete
10.5.4. Pumping clay concrete mixture with concrete pumps
10.5.5. Surface treatment
10.6. Thermal and sound insulation of clay concrete floors with mineral filler
10.7. Walls made of small-piece hollow blocks
10.8. Walls made of adobe products in a cotton shell

11. Clay plaster
11.1. General information
11.2. Surface preparation
11.3. Clay plaster mortars
11.3.1. General information
11.3.2. Exterior clay plaster
11.3.3. Clay mortar for interior work
11.4. Application rules plaster mortar on clay walls
11.5. Shotcrete plaster
11.6. Clay expanded clay plaster
11.7. African plaster
11.8. Clay plaster on thatched walls
11.9. Modeling works on clay plaster
11.10. Corner protection

12. Protection of clay concrete surfaces from atmospheric influences
12.1. General information
12.2. Traditional way grouting clay concrete surface
12.3. Protection with paint coatings
12.3.1. General information
12.3.2. Surface priming
12.3.3. Recommended paint compositions
12.3.4. Vapor permeability
12.3.5. Influence of capillary suction coefficient
12.4. Protection with water-repellent coatings
12.4.1. Hydrophobic agents
12.4.2. Application of hydrophobic agents
12.4.3. Sprinkling
12.5. Protection with lime plaster
12.5.1. General information
12.5.2. Preparing the surface for plastering and spraying it
12.5.3. Reinforcement
12.5.4. Compound
12.5.5. Applying plaster mortar
12.5.6. Vapor permeability of lime plasters
12.6. Cladding protection
12.7. Constructive activities
12.7.1. Rain protection
12.7.2. Waterproofing walls
12.7.3. Protection against water in interior spaces

13. Repair of adobe walls
13.1. General information
13.2. Causes of damage
13.3. Sealing cracks and seams with clay-cement and clay-lime mortars
13.3.1. General information
13.3.2. Compositions of solutions for sealing joints
13.3.3. Sealing seams
13.4. Sealing cracks and seams with traditional mortars
13.4.1. General information
13.4.2. Traditional compositions
13.5. Wall repair
13.5.1. Clay plaster repair
13.5.2. Primers
13.6. Increasing the thermal resistance of walls
13.6.1. General information
13.6.2. Cause of condensation
13.6.3. Thermal protection measures
13.6.4. Additional thermal insulation light walls clay concrete
13.6.5. Additional thermal insulation of walls with effective small-piece factory-made products

14. Constructive solutions for parts of adobe buildings
14.1. Loop connections
14.2. Walls
14.2.1. Clay concrete walls with high thermal resistance
14.2.2. Old walls car tires, filled with clay soil
14.3. Floors
14.3.1. Traditional floors
14.3.2. Modern floors
14.4. Floors
14.4.1. General information
14.4.2. Traditional dirt floors
14.4.3. Modern ground floors
14.5. Thermal insulation of pitched light roofs clay concrete
14.6. Roofs
14.6.1. General information
14.6.2. Traditional roofs made of adobe materials
14.6.3. Modern pitched roofs made of clay concrete
14.7. Vaulted and domed roofs
14.7.1. General information
14.7.2. Geometric shapes vaults
14.7.3. Statics of vaulted structures
14.7.4. Nubian vaults
14.7.5. Afghan and Persian domes
14.7.6. Nubian domes
14.7.7. Dome of optimal shape
14.7.8. Construction of domes and vaults using formwork
14.7.9. Firing ground domes
14.7.10. Modern buildings with domed roofs made of adobe concrete
14.8. Ground wall in the winter garden
14.9. The use of adobe concrete in bathrooms
14.10. Built-in furniture and sanitary fixtures made of adobe concrete
14.11. Clay concrete ovens
14.11.1. Stoves with economical wood consumption
14.11.2. Furnace with heated bed
14.11.3. Pizza oven
14.12. Waterproofing of reservoirs made of clay concrete
14.12.1. General information
14.12.2. Installation of monolithic clay concrete waterproofing
14.12.3. Waterproofing from raw brick
14.12.4. Waterproofing from plastic raw clay products
14.12.5. Waterproofing sheet
14.13. Earthquake-resistant adobe buildings
14.13.1. General information
14.13.2. Constructive activities
14.13.3. Influence of building shape on earthquake stability
14.13.4. Monolithic adobe walls reinforced with bamboo
14.13.5. Ground walls covered with fabric

15. New construction made of adobe concrete
15.1. General information
15.2. Residential building, Hoernerkirchen, Germany
15.3. Residential building with studio, Siegen, Germany
15.4. Two adjacent houses, Kassel, Germany
15.5. Residential building with office, Kassel, Germany
15.6. Residential building, Corbeek-Lo, Belgium
15.7. Dormitory for seminarians of the World Theological University, Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India
15.8. Residential building in Tuscon, Arizona, USA
15.9. Farmhouse, Wazirpur, India
15.10. Residential building in La Paz, Bolivia
15.11. Residential building in Turku, Finland
15.12. Bern Felsenau House, Switzerland
15.13. Orphanage in Kaliningrad, Russia
15.14. Three-family house, Stein am Rhein, Switzerland
15.15. Kindergarten, Sarsum, Germany
15.16. Office building, New Delhi, India
15.17. Anthroposophical School building, Jerna, Sweden
15.18. Pan African Development Institute, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
15.19. Church in Jern, Sweden
15.20. Chapel of Reconciliation, Berlin, Germany
15.21. Student residence, Kassel, Germany
15.22. Village Druzhny, Belarus
15.23. Health Center, Woel, Germany

16. Prospects for construction using adobe concrete
17. List of used literature
18. Photo credits

Preface to the Russian edition

The book “Clay Concrete and Its Application” by Gernot Minke, brought to the attention of readers, is the fifth edition and has been published in a number of foreign countries. Interest in raw clay materials made from cohesive soils (clays, loams, sandy loams) without firing, in last years increased significantly. Soil building materials are divided into waterproof and non-waterproof. Water-resistant concrete includes soil concrete (or cement soil), where cement (lime, gypsum, etc.) is used as a binder. For non-waterproof adobe materials (clay concrete), the binder is clay particles less than 0.005 mm in size. Local organic (straw, flax and hemp shrub, etc.) and mineral (sand, gravel, etc.) materials are used as fillers in clay concrete. .

Of practical interest are data on the properties of adobe materials, the use of which in housing construction will help regulate humidity and create a favorable indoor climate, as well as the results of studies on the influence of vaulted and dome-shaped coverings made of adobe concrete on psychological condition residents.

The Russian edition of the book preserves the classification of adobe concrete adopted in Germany, which to a certain extent differs from the domestic one. The monograph introduces readers to German standards and test methods, as well as foreign experience in the construction of structures and the use of clay concrete. In addition, many special concepts used in construction industry Germany, have no direct analogues in the Russian language, and therefore it was necessary to expand the existing terminology. For this reason, it was necessary to abandon the subject index in the Russian edition, available in the original, since in the absence of many exact terminological analogues in the Russian language, this index loses its meaning.

The main advantage of the book is its complexity. It covers all the main issues: improving the properties of clay concrete, protecting adobe surfaces from atmospheric influences, designing parts of earthen buildings, and construction technologies. Of great interest is the section devoted to the stability of domed and vaulted coverings made of clay concrete.

Such a multifaceted publication Russian literature is missing, so publishing the book in Russia fills this gap. The book combines theoretical study of issues with specific practical recommendations. The monograph is beautifully illustrated, which increases the clarity of the presentation, and is filled with a large number of practical examples, which enhances its applied significance.

For a wide range of domestic specialists, the rich Foreign experience ground construction.

It should be assumed that the Russian edition of the book “Clay Concrete and Its Application” will be of interest to a wide range of Russian readers. It can be recommended to design engineers, builders and architects. The book can serve teaching aid courses: building materials and technology construction production. The monograph may be useful for undergraduate and graduate students of construction specialties, and will also be of significant interest to private developers.

E.A. Prozorov, Ph.D. tech. sciences, head Laboratory of JSC "TSNIIOMTI"

Preface

This book was written due to the growing worldwide interest in construction using clay soils. It contains all the research published to date in this area, as well as modern data obtained as a result of scientific research. research work carried out since 1978 at the Laboratory of Experimental Construction (FEB) of the University of Kassel.

The monograph includes the developments of the Kassel Bureau for the Design of Ecological Construction, put into practice.

When working on this edition, the German monograph Lehmbau Handbuch (Publishing House Ökobuch Verlag, Staufen 1994) was taken as a basis. However we're talking about not about a direct translation, the author has revised and updated the text taking into account the requirements of an international audience. Some sections have been enlarged, more projects are covered, illustrations have been added, and information of interest mainly to readers in Germany has been condensed. The first chapter introduces readers to the raw materials for the production of clay materials and tells about the history of construction from clay soils. It describes the ability of adobe concrete to regulate indoor humidity.

The second chapter presents the results of studies of the properties of clay soils and clay concrete of various compositions. Most of this research has been obtained recently.

The third chapter describes methods for preparing clay soils, and the fourth is devoted to improving the physical and mechanical properties of clay concrete.

The next seven chapters talk about the technologies for manufacturing raw clay materials and products, as well as methods for constructing walls based on clay soils.

The twelfth chapter explains how adobe buildings and structures can be protected from weather conditions.

The fourteenth chapter provides various Constructive decisions parts of clay buildings, contains information about modern technologies construction of vaults and domes, approaches to the design of buildings resistant to earthquakes are considered, and examples of the use of adobe concrete in bathrooms are given.

The fifteenth chapter illustrates projects of public and residential buildings made of adobe concrete, built in different parts of the world.

The theoretical and experimental data presented in the monograph can serve as a guide to construction with clay concrete for engineers, architects, contractors, customers, as well as readers who would like to work with the most ancient building material.

Not everyone knows about this material, so in most cases it causes a large number of questions for novice builders. But in reality, everything is quite simple - the hero of this article is better known as adobe (a mixture of clay and straw). In this article we will take a closer look at what adobe concrete is and its use.

Features of the material

It would seem that clay as a building material has become a thing of the past, but with the development of ecological construction, it has recently begun to be actively used again. The fact is that finely ground clay is a good astringent and preservative.

If you dilute it with water and add a filler to the solution, for example, plant fibers or sawdust, you can get a good and environmentally friendly thermal insulation material. For example, such a mixture is usually used to fill hollow slag and expanded clay concrete blocks or as insulating plaster.

In addition, gypsum, lime, or cement are also added to the mixture from time to time, which makes the clay concrete more durable. This allows it to be used as a load-bearing material in the construction of environmentally friendly houses.

The volumetric mass of the material depends on the ratio of the ingredients. The optimal figure is considered to be 550-600 kg per cubic meter.


There is a conclusion that such material can rot and is a fire hazard, since it contains straw or sawdust. But these are just guesses, since chopped plant stems and sawdust in a clay liquid solution swell and are well enveloped in clay, which not only binds them reliably, but also preserves them.

As for the fire hazard, the filler begins to smolder only when exposed to an open flame, for example, a gas flame, for several minutes. As a result, the fire safety of the material is also higher than that of some more classic materials, which are used in construction work.


Advantages

The growing popularity of the material is explained by its following advantages:

  • Promote the formation of a microclimate favorable to humans. Clay is capable of absorbing and releasing moisture faster and in a much larger volume than classical building materials. Moreover, this does not affect the strength of the material.
  • Accumulates heat. Thanks to this property, the material can create comfortable conditions in housing, even in conditions of enormous daily temperature changes.
  • Reusable, for this the material needs to be in water.
  • Ideal for DIY home construction. The material does not require the use of construction equipment and expensive equipment. The technology for working with it is also available to inexperienced builders.
  • Clay protects wood and other organic materials from rotting. If you treat wooden walls with it, they will not be affected by either fungus or insects.
  • Clay cleanses the airspace, absorbing pollutants.
  • Low material price. That is why construction using clay is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical.

Note! During production lightweight material with a density of less than 500-600 kg per cubic meter, the material must be dried. Otherwise, the straw will remain wet for a long time and eventually begin to rot.


Flaws

Of course, along with its advantages, clay concrete also has some disadvantages:

  • The strength is less than 600 kg per cubic meter, as a result of which nails and dowels do not hold in it. Plastering can only be done using reinforcement.
  • When the solution dries, large shrinkage occurs.

Preparation of material

Composition and proportions

To produce durable and “warm” material, the following components are used:


Preparation of the solution

It is possible to prepare the solution in a simple concrete mixer.

The instructions look like this:

  • Before you start preparing the solution, you need to prepare the straw fiber. Its length should not be greater than the thickness of the material. For example, if the solution will be used to fill concrete formwork with a thickness of 20 cm, then the length of the fiber should also be no more than 20 cm.
  • After this, water is added to the concrete mixer and lime is poured into it. The contents are carefully mixed.
  • Then straw fiber for concrete and sawdust are poured.
  • After the filler has soaked, gypsum is added.
  • Lastly, finely ground clay is slowly added with constant stirring.

Mineral fillers

In many ways, the characteristics of the material depend on the filler. Based on this, experts recommend using various mineral porous fillers instead of straw fiber to improve the thermophysical properties.

For example, the following are excellent for these purposes:

It must be stated that the correct ratio of mineral fillers will completely solve the problem of shrinkage.

If we compare clay concrete based on mineral filler with clay fiber concrete, the vapor permeability coefficient of the former is many times higher, which reduces the possibility of condensation forming in the wall.

Now let’s take a closer look at the types of fillers listed above.

There is an inexpensive and lightweight filler made in the form of granules. Its highlight is good strength, despite the fact that the density forms 250-800 kg/m3.

Expanded clay is produced by firing low-melting clay at temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius. As a result of the release of a gaseous substance into the granules, the clay swells. As a result, expanded clay has a porous structure that represents frozen foam, but the shell gives the granules greater strength.

Foam glass is an unnatural material, reminiscent of pumice, with a density of 100-700 kg per cubic meter. The process of its manufacture involves swelling of ground glass, which is mixed with a small amount of limestone, charcoal or other materials that are capable of releasing gas when the glass softens.


Expanded perlite is also produced by firing volcanic glassy rocks. During firing at a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius, water evaporates and perlite increases up to 20 times.

The bulk density of perlite is 60 kg per cubic meter, and the thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.045 W/m K.

Volcanic tuff is the name given to rocks formed as a result of the solidification of volcanic eruption products - pumice, ash, etc., which were then cemented and compacted.


This material is porous volcanic glass, which appeared during the solidification of medium and acidic lavas, releasing gas. The density of pumice is in the range of 500 -750 kg per cubic meter.

Advice! The clay solution can be poured into formwork, like simple concrete, or made into blocks for building walls. When pouring, the mixture must be compacted.


Lightweight clay cork concrete

Among organic fillers, in addition to straw and sawdust, cork chips are usually used. The advantages of this material include low bulk density. As for the disadvantages, this filler is quite expensive; in addition, the compressive strength of cork is significantly lower than expanded clay.

It must be stated that in construction stores you can find dry mixtures that contain the following components:

  • Crushed clay;
  • Cork chips;
  • Straw fiber;
  • Small amount of cellulose.

This mixture is much more often used as thermal insulation when constructing walls or plaster. Before use, the mixture is diluted in water.

The density of clay cork concrete is 300-450 kg per cubic meter. Thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.07-0.08 W/m K.

Conclusion

Recently, clay has been increasingly used in a variety of areas of construction and for various purposes, as it has many advantages. The only thing is that to obtain truly high-quality material, you need to correctly prepare clay concrete with your own hands, choosing the appropriate components for it.

From the video in this article it is possible to obtain additional data on this topic.

Not everyone knows about this material, so it usually raises many questions among novice builders. However, in fact, everything is very simple - the hero of this article is better known as adobe (a mixture of clay and straw). In this article we will take a closer look at what adobe concrete is and its use.

Features of the material

It would seem that clay as a building material is a thing of the past, but with the development of ecological construction, it has recently begun to be actively used again. The fact is that finely ground clay is a good astringent and preservative.

If you dilute it with water and add a filler to the solution, for example, plant fibers or sawdust, you can get an excellent and environmentally friendly thermal insulation material. For example, such a mixture is often used to fill hollow slag and expanded clay concrete blocks or as insulating plaster.

Also, gypsum, lime or even cement are sometimes added to the mixture, which makes clay concrete more durable. This allows it to be used as a load-bearing material in the construction of environmentally friendly houses.

The volumetric mass of the material depends on the ratio of the ingredients. The optimal figure is considered to be 550-600 kg per cubic meter.

There is an opinion that such material can rot and is also a fire hazard, since it contains straw or sawdust. However, this is just speculation, since chopped plant stems and sawdust in a clay liquid solution swell and are well enveloped in clay, which not only binds them reliably, but also preserves them.

As for the fire hazard, the filler begins to smolder only when exposed to an open flame, for example, a gas flame, for several minutes. As a result, the fire safety of the material is even higher than that of some more traditional materials used in construction.

Advantages

The growing popularity of the material is explained by its following advantages:

  • Contribute to the formation of a microclimate favorable to humans. Clay is able to absorb and release moisture faster and in a much larger volume than traditional building materials. Moreover, this does not affect the strength of the material.
  • Accumulates heat. Thanks to this property, the material can create comfortable living conditions even in conditions of large daily temperature changes.
  • Reusability, to do this, the material just needs to be soaked in water.
  • Ideal for DIY home construction. The material does not require the use of construction equipment and expensive equipment. The technology for working with it is accessible even to inexperienced builders.
  • Clay protects wood and other organic materials from rotting. If you treat wooden walls with it, they will not be affected by either fungus or insects.
  • Clay purifies the air, absorbing pollutants.
  • Low material price. Thanks to this, construction using clay is not only environmentally friendly, but also economical.

Note!
When producing lightweight material with a density of less than 500-600 kg per cubic meter, the material must be dried.
Otherwise, the straw will remain wet for a long time and will eventually begin to rot.

Flaws

Of course, along with its advantages, clay concrete also has some disadvantages:

  • The strength is less than 600 kg per cubic meter, as a result of which nails and dowels do not hold in it. Plastering can only be done using reinforcement.
  • When the solution dries, significant shrinkage occurs.

Preparation of material

Composition and proportions

To prepare durable and “warm” material, the following components are used:

Preparation of the solution

You can prepare the solution in a regular concrete mixer.

The instructions look like this:

  • Before you start preparing the solution, you need to prepare the straw fiber. Its length should not exceed the thickness of the material. For example, if the solution will be used for a thickness of 20 cm, then the length of the fiber should also be no more than 20 cm.
  • Then water is added to the concrete mixer and lime is poured into it. The contents are thoroughly mixed.
  • Next, straw is poured.
  • After the filler has soaked, gypsum is added.
  • Lastly, finely ground clay is gradually added with constant stirring.

Mineral fillers

In many ways, the characteristics of the material depend on the filler. Therefore, experts recommend using various mineral porous fillers instead of straw fiber to improve the thermophysical properties.

For example, the following is great for these purposes:

It must be said that the correct ratio of mineral fillers will completely solve the problem of shrinkage.

If we compare clay concrete based on mineral filler with clay fiber concrete, the vapor permeability coefficient of the former is several times higher, which reduces the likelihood of condensation forming in the wall.

Now let's take a closer look at the above types of fillers.

It is an inexpensive and lightweight aggregate made in the form of granules. Its feature is good strength, despite the fact that the density is 250-800 kg/m3.

Expanded clay is produced by firing low-melting clay at temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius. As a result of the release of a gaseous substance inside the granules, the clay swells. As a result, expanded clay has a porous structure that represents frozen foam, but the shell gives the granules high strength.

Foam glass is an artificial material resembling pumice, with a density of 100-700 kg per cubic meter. The process of making it involves swelling ground glass, which is mixed with a small amount of limestone, charcoal or other materials that can release gas when the glass softens.

Expanded perlite is also made by firing volcanic glassy rocks. During the firing process at a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius, water evaporates and perlite increases up to 20 times.

The bulk density of perlite is 60 kg per cubic meter, and the thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.045 W/m K.

Volcanic tuff is the name given to rocks formed as a result of the solidification of volcanic eruption products - pumice, ash, etc., which were subsequently cemented and compacted.

This material is porous volcanic glass, formed during the solidification of medium and acidic lavas, which release gas. The density of pumice is in the range of 500 -750 kg per cubic meter.

Advice!
The clay solution can be poured into formwork, like ordinary concrete, or made into blocks for building walls.
When pouring, the mixture must be compacted.

In the photo - cork chips

Lightweight clay cork concrete

Among organic fillers, in addition to straw and sawdust, cork chips are often used. The advantages of this material include low bulk density. As for the disadvantages, this filler is quite expensive, in addition, the compressive strength of cork is significantly lower than expanded clay.

It must be said that in construction stores you can find dry mixtures that contain the following components:

  • Crushed clay;
  • Cork chips;
  • Straw fiber;
  • Small amount of cellulose.

This mixture is most often used as thermal insulation when constructing walls or plaster. Before use, the mixture is diluted in water.

The density of clay cork concrete is 300-450 kg per cubic meter. Thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.07-0.08 W/m K.

Conclusion

Recently, clay has been increasingly used in a variety of areas of construction and for various purposes, as it has many advantages. The only thing is that to obtain truly high-quality material, you need to properly prepare clay concrete with your own hands, choosing the appropriate components for it.

You can get more information on this topic from the video in this article.

Finely ground, obtained by extraction, is a good astringent and preservative. If you mix clay with water and sawdust or sawdust from solid plant fibers, or with a small amount of lime, gypsum or cement, you can also obtain a valuable thermal insulation material - clay concrete (20).

The volumetric mass of lightweight clay concrete depends on the ratio of mixed materials. For 1 m3 of clay concrete, 200 kg of sawdust and shavings, 70 kg of slaked lime, 30 kg of building gypsum"300 kg of light loam and 350 liters of water. Optimal volumetric mass clay concrete 550-600 kg/m3. Clay concrete is used as a very cheap thermal insulation material in the manufacture of liners for slag concrete blocks external masonry during the construction of single-family houses.

Sawdust and chaff from plant stems, when soaked in liquid clay dough, swell and become enveloped in particles of clay, which, when dry, firmly binds them and reliably preserves them: they do not rot; significantly reduce hygroscopicity and flammability (matches do not catch and begin to smolder only when exposed to a gas flame for 2-3 minutes).

Lightweight clay concrete made from sawdust. Pour water into a mixer (50 l) or into a melting box, add slaked lime, cement and sawdust and mix it all thoroughly so that the resulting milk of lime is absorbed into the sawdust. Only after this, with constant stirring, a dose of finely ground clay is gradually added; the amount of materials depends on the mixing method

To moisten sawdust and crush binders and clay during mixing, only 300-350 liters of water per 1 m3 of finished insulating material are needed. However, the amount of water should be adjusted depending on the type of sawdust and its natural humidity, as well as on the moisture content of the clay, and determined experimentally. It is important that water with binder and clay do not flow out of the mold during compaction. If the mixture is slightly wetter than required, increase the drying time, since sawdust dries very slowly. If there is not enough water, it is difficult to stir the mixture. The amount of water in lightweight clay concrete should be such that the wetted mixture (like ordinary concrete) holds well in a handful (does not fall apart) and the palm is only damp, not wet.

The mixture of sawdust, binder and clay in the mold is compacted lightly, not as thoroughly as concrete. The weaker the mixture is compacted, the more air it contains after drying, the less weight (400-500 g/dm3) and the higher the thermal insulation ability, but such a mixture is less durable; it can be successfully used as insulation to fill the voids of pre-fabricated blocks; As a result, a strong block protects the less durable insulating material quite reliably.


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