Clay concrete: characteristics, application

Due to its strength and adaptability, concrete is a basic building material. Although cement, sand, and gravel are the ingredients of traditional concrete, there is an intriguing variation known as clay concrete. This kind of concrete has clay as a primary ingredient, giving it special qualities and advantages over other mixes.

The potential benefits of clay concrete for the environment have drawn more attention to it. Because clay is a plentiful and natural resource, it can help lower the carbon footprint of producing concrete. We can contribute to more sustainable building practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using clay in place of some cement in construction projects.

Apart from its advantages for the environment, clay concrete has unique qualities that make it appropriate for a range of uses. It’s perfect for projects where longevity and durability are important because it tends to be more flexible and less prone to cracking. Clay concrete’s flexibility makes it possible to mold it into a variety of unusual shapes and forms, which in turn inspires creative architectural designs.

Clay has long been used in construction, so the idea of using it in concrete is not new. But contemporary developments in materials science and technology have improved its formulation, increasing its usefulness and performance. These days, clay concrete is being investigated for use in infrastructure, commercial, and residential projects, demonstrating its efficacy and adaptability.

For engineers, architects, and builders, knowing the properties and uses of clay concrete can lead to new opportunities. Clay concrete presents a viable option for anyone seeking to lessen their environmental impact, increase design flexibility, or investigate alternate building materials. We can create a built environment that is more resilient and sustainable by embracing this novel material.

General information

Adobe, also referred to as clay concrete, can be made of a variety of man-made and natural materials (see this article’s video).

The easiest recipe to make is as follows:

• clay, which acts as a binder;
• filler – traditionally straw, but other components can also be used, such as polymer fibers, expanded clay, etc.;
• water, which serves as a solvent for this mixture.

Properties

When using plant fillers (straw or sawdust) to make clay concrete products, the ideal density is 500–600 kg/m^3. Depending on the size and kind of aggregates, the density of structurally compacted clay concrete (raw brick, etc.) can reach 1700–2200 kg/m 3 or higher.

The following are some benefits of using Adobe:

1. High thermal insulation properties.
2. The thermal resistance of the material is 4 times higher than similar characteristics of concrete on a cement binder. A house made of clay concrete meets all temperature conditions and relative humidity standards (warm in winter; cool in summer).
3. Increased fire resistance.
4. High-quality sound insulation.
5. The ability to prepare mixtures with your own hands at home.
6. The price of materials for the preparation of clay concrete is practically zero, and production does not require special equipment and tools, which is very beneficial for individual construction.
7. Clay materials are reusable products. To do this, they are enough to soak in water, mold, and a new product is ready.

• low moisture resistance;
• high shrinkage during hardening and strength gain of products;
• long period of time for strength gain (drying);
• low crack resistance;
• impossibility of constructing buildings in winter.

Types

As with cement concrete, there are various categories for clay concrete based on filler type and operational requirements:

1. Clay fiber concrete is a material consisting of a mixture of clay soil and straw fiber, with a standard density of more than 1200 kg / m 3 . In order to improve the thermal characteristics of products, preference is given to cereal plants with thin dense stems.
2. Clay concrete on mineral filler (density 500-1200 kg / m 3 ). With a correctly designed ratio of fillers, there is a possibility of completely eliminating shrinkage during the hardening of mixtures. Widely used in monolithic construction.

1. Clay cork concrete (300–450 kg/m3) is a solution of clay binder and cork chips. The first and main disadvantage of this material is the high price of the filler. The second is that the compressive strength values ​​are much lower than the above-mentioned analogues.
2. Clay wood concrete (500 kg/m3) is a mixture of clay, sawdust, chips or shavings. It has high thermal insulation capacity, but at the same time has low strength.

1. Clay aerated concrete (90 kg/m3) is a geopolymer consisting of clay powder, chalk, quartz sand and liquid glass. The porosity of the material structure is achieved by introducing gas-forming additives into the solution. The time it takes to gain strength, at an air temperature of 20°C, is 2 hours from the moment of pouring into formwork.

Application

The industrial production of raw clay products is excessively restricted and primarily involves outfitting a waterproofing layer, or "clay castle," for the purpose of backfilling foundations. Additionally, this material can be used as a floor installation thermal insulation layer.

However, state regulations have been established in other countries to control the production of clay concrete and its application in contemporary building. Shin-raised materials are commonly used in the construction of low-rise buildings, in accordance with the standards and technologies developed for enhancing the quality of clay concrete products.

Specifically, soil concrete is completely usable:

1. For the construction of monolithic structures in civil engineering (walls, ceilings, roofs, etc.);
2. For the production of precast clay concrete structures (bricks, blocks, floor slabs, vaults, etc.).

As the above assortment makes clear, clay can be used in concrete to produce high-quality structures in addition to acting as the primary binder and as an admixture to enhance or detract from product characteristics. Studies carried out by specialized construction companies have shown that clay materials are not less effective than cement concrete.

Materials

Clay soil is the primary ingredient used to make clay concrete, and it has a major impact on the composite’s overall characteristics.

Binders

The weathering of feldspar and silicate rocks produces the soil used to make clay concrete, which is primarily composed of clay materials like:

• kaolinite;
• hydromica with an admixture of quartz;
• montmorillonite;
• secondary calcite mica;
• opal, etc.

The location of clay soils affects their composition and properties (see photo).

• of clay, fraction less than 0.002 mm;
• sandy – 0.02-2.00 mm;
• dust particles with a grain size of 0.002-0.06.

Sand and dust are large ingredients that function as filters, and clay inclusions serve as binding agents for the soil’s larger constituents.

The soil can be: depending on which grains predominate

Clay is defined as soil that has more than 30% clay component content.

Fillers

The following substances can be used as both organic and inorganic fillers in contemporary clay concrete:

1. Cereal straw (fiber) acts as a classic filler for clay concrete. The highest quality products are obtained from barley fiber. Straw is cut manually or mechanically. The length of the cut fibers should not exceed the width of the designed building material.

1. Expanded clay, obtained in the process of processing low-melting clay at a temperature of 1200 ° C. At the moment of firing, the clay material turns into a plastic mass and swells. At the fracture, an expanded clay granule looks like a porous solidified foam.

1. Foam glass is an artificial material similar to pumice. Under the influence of high temperatures, the crushed glass sins with wood coal, limestone or other materials releasing gas during heat treatment process. As a result, a strong connection is obtained with a density of 100–700 kg/m3.

1. The swollen perlite is prepared at a temperature of 1000 ° C by firing glass -shaped water -containing volcanic rocks.

1. Volcanic tuff is a rock formed in the process of volcanic eruptions.

1. Pumza is a porous volcanic material (density 500–750 kg/m 3), which is a product of rapid hardening of medium and sour lav.

Ways to improve the operational properties of glin -raised materials

To improve the technical properties of clay concrete mixtures and the manufactured goods’ quality as a result of the mixtures’ grain composition being optimally chosen.

Both the amount of clay in the solution and the shrinkage of clay concrete are decreased by the addition of quartz sand and coarse aggregates. A zero shrinkage value of the hardening mixture can be attained by varying the volume of clay soil and the amount of sand consumed in equal proportions, at a specific concentration.

The quality of clay concrete is positively impacted by the following mineral binders:

1. Cement, which is an excellent stabilizer for soils with a low content of clay components.
2. Lime, reacting with the main clay-forming minerals found in the soil, is capable of forming calcium hydrosilicate and hydroaluminate compounds at normal temperatures, which have a positive effect on the characteristics of clay concrete.

1. Stabilization of the mixture with bitumen is recommended in the case of using soil with a large amount of sand and a low content of clay formations.

1. Liquid glass is a good stabilizer and plasticizer. When using this material, it must be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio, otherwise microcracks may form on the surface of the products, which contribute to the high water permeability of structures.

Apart from the aforementioned design techniques, diverse organic and inorganic additives possess a unique and intricate influence on the characteristics of mixtures and the performance attributes of structures:

• plasticizers (milk whey, liquid glass, ammonium acetate);
• water repellents;
• fibrous additives (animal hair, pine needles, etc.);
• synthetic – resins, latex materials, etc.

Concrete volume calculator

Characteristics	Application
Durable and strong	Building foundations
Eco-friendly material	Construction of walls
Good thermal insulation	Flooring
Affordable	Making bricks

Due to its special qualities, clay concrete is an exceptionally adaptable and sustainable building material that can be used for a wide range of construction projects. Its mixture of sand, clay, and other natural materials yields a product that is not only robust and long-lasting but also ecologically benign. Because of this combination, clay concrete becomes a more appealing option for environmentally conscious builders and developers as it helps lower the carbon footprint associated with the production of traditional concrete.

Clay concrete is especially helpful in climates with large temperature swings because of its qualities, which include resistance to cracking and thermal insulation. These characteristics contribute to energy efficiency by assisting in the maintenance of a constant interior temperature and minimizing the need for additional heating and cooling. Its organic makeup also makes it easy to combine with other materials, giving architects more creative freedom when designing architectural details.

Applications for clay concrete are numerous and diverse, encompassing both residential and commercial constructions. It can be molded into a variety of sizes and forms, which makes it appropriate for unique designs and creative architectural solutions. Furthermore, the material is an affordable option for long-term construction projects due to its built-in durability and minimal maintenance needs.

All things considered, clay concrete is a progressive method of building that strikes a balance between affordability, sustainability, and performance. Clay concrete presents a viable answer to the building industry’s ongoing search for more environmentally friendly materials that satisfy both structural and environmental requirements. Using this material can result in more sustainable and resilient building techniques, which will benefit present and future generations.

Combining the advantages of traditional concrete with clay, clay concrete is a multipurpose building material that offers improved thermal, sustainable, and flexible qualities. Because of its natural aesthetic and low environmental impact, this special blend is perfect for a range of applications, from creative architectural designs to environmentally friendly construction projects. Building professionals can produce more inventive and environmentally friendly structures by having a better understanding of the properties and possible applications of clay concrete.

Video on the topic

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