Light-conducting concrete: manufacturing technology and specifics of the material

An inventive construction material known as "light-conducting concrete" combines the strength of conventional concrete with the special capacity to transmit light. By adding unique additives or light-transmitting components to the concrete mixture, this intriguing material is created. As a result, the concrete not only functions well structurally but also lets light through to produce eye-catching visual effects.

A specialized process is used to carefully mix optical fibers or additives with concrete to create light-conducting concrete. To guarantee that the material’s properties of light transmission remain constant, this integration calls for exacting methods. The finished product offers a contemporary take on the possibilities of conventional concrete and can be utilized for a range of purposes, from architectural features to interior design elements.

This article will examine the technology underlying light-conducting concrete, its manufacturing process, and its special qualities. Whether you’re an architect, builder, or just interested in new materials, knowing the ins and outs of light-conducting concrete can lead to innovative and useful design solutions.

History of its appearance

It’s becoming increasingly rare for designers and architects to find translucent concrete. There isn’t a material that can match its strength and durability without sacrificing external appeal.

• The Hungarian architect Aron Loskonsi invented and patented the technology "Litracon" (light transmitting concrete).
• Thinking about how to add sunlight to concrete rooms without compromising the strength of the structure, he came up with the idea of ​​​​modifying the internal structure of concrete.
• By adding light-conducting optical fiber to the solution, Loskonsi received externally attractive blocks that fully comply with the performance characteristics of artificial stone.

View of the New York City WTC at night from the Perelman Center for the Performing Arts. The building’s structure is put together using concrete blocks that conduct light.

Technology

How can concrete that transmits light be made? It is important to remember that production technology is always evolving. It is not yet feasible to construct monolithic structures out of this material.

• Due to the specifics of production, litracon is produced in blocks or slabs.
• Using vibration casting or pressing technology, the solution is poured into the formwork layer by layer and fiberglass is laid.
• This technique allows you to get blocks with a chaotic pattern, but with some effort, you can get a very specific image on the outside of the block.
• The dimensions of the blocks correspond to a certain size of the formwork, fiberglass is laid perpendicular to the outer operational side.
• After removing the form, the slab or block is sanded.

Remarkably, the technology of vibration casting does not require much skill to operate, so you could easily create translucent concrete by hand if you so choose.

Components and equipment

To produce concrete with light-conducting properties by vibration casting, the following equipment is required:

• a container for mixing the solution,
• a formwork,
• a vibration table.

Traditional elements of the fine-grained concrete solution:

• Portland cement,
• fine-grained sifted clean sand,
• plasticizers, to improve the fluidity of low-mobility solutions,
• water, without chemical impurities.

The amount of optical fiber needed will depend on the thickness of the block being made and should have a diameter between 0.5 and 2.5 mm. Fiberglass volume in total mass shouldn’t be more than 5%.

Be aware that using a low-mobility solution necessitates quick casting layer setting. Using low-mobility compositions that hold their shape after compaction can streamline the procedure.

Using varying amounts and combinations of optical fiber with varying diameters, you can make intriguing patterns on the exterior of a concrete block.

Composition and preparation process

The ingredients of the luminous concrete production solution are combined in a 1:3 or 1:2.5 ratio. No more water should be added than 50% of the total amount of cement.

To make things easier to understand, here are the quantitative values of the materials needed to make 1 m3 of light-conducting concrete:

• Portland cement – 0.5 t,
• clean sand – 1.5 t,
• water – 0.25 t.

Prior to adding additives to enhance the solution’s plasticity, thoroughly review the manufacturer’s instructions. The packaging contains written usage instructions. Water is added after the bulk components have been thoroughly mixed to create a homogenous composition.

For an additional five minutes, the liquid solution is mixed. The amount of time required to mix increases slightly when a plasticizer is added.

Operational characteristics

Luminous concrete is essentially a composite material that is produced through vibration pressing or casting. This establishes the final material’s technical properties.

The following characteristics of a composite made of fine-grained concrete are present:

Note: Since large filler is not used in the production of translucent concrete, optical fiber also serves as a reinforcing element.

Application area

Concrete that is translucent is not entirely transparent. Such a wall allows light to pass through, making it possible to see the contours of objects but not their fine details.

Simultaneously, the blocks’ strength permits the construction of internal partitions and portions of load-bearing walls. However, because optical fiber is used in the production process, the material’s cost is relatively high, and its primary application is decorative finishing.

The light-transmitting concrete material can be sawed into tiles and finished as follows:

• walls,
• floors,
• stairs,
• ceilings,
• interior items,
• furniture.

Because of its qualities, it can be utilized as the primary building material. These kinds of buildings do exist, even though they are very costly. The image below illustrates the use of light-transmitting concrete to create multiple design elements.

With the strength of conventional concrete combined with its exceptional capacity to transmit light, light-conducting concrete is a cutting-edge material that can be used to create eye-catching and useful architectural features. The process of incorporating optical fibers or other light-conducting materials into the concrete mix is highlighted in this article’s examination of the manufacturing technology underlying light-conducting concrete. It also explores the practical aspects of using this material, such as how it can be used in contemporary design, what advantages it has for energy efficiency and aesthetics, and how to maintain and withstand it.

Light-transmitting concrete blocks: we make them ourselves

Industrial translucent concrete is not very widely used due to its extremely high cost. However, you can create these blocks on your own to lower the cost component.

You will require:

• prepare formwork of the required size of a rectangular shape;
• pour the first layer of the solution and compact it slightly;
• lay out the fiber optics and press them into the solution;
• let the solution set.

The form must be filled out in phases. Until the entire formwork is filled, the layers are repeated.

Note: When creating your own translucent concrete, the frequency of the fiber layers will be lower than in the factory-produced composite, but the material’s aesthetic qualities will remain the same.

The fiber bundles will shift when mobile mixtures are used, creating the appearance of uneven distribution. This will result in a distinct pattern on the surface but a slight deterioration of the light transmission. The subsequent layer is applied once the preceding layer has solidified, regardless of the solution’s composition.

Watching the video in this article will give you a deeper understanding of the luminous blocks.

Final processing

The last fill layer is removed no sooner than two days after it has solidified.

• After this, the block should be kept for 5 days under the following conditions:

1. temperature +20 0 C;
2. relative humidity 95%.

• During this period, the concrete will gain up to 80% of its maximum strength, and further processing will not harm it.
• After the block is removed from the formwork, it must be polished. The fact is that during the production process, the ends of the fiber bundles will be covered with concrete milk, and will not transmit light.
• The working side of the blocks, perpendicular to the direction of fiber laying, is polished with diamond disks.

An inventive material known as "light-conducting concrete" combines the durability of conventional concrete with the special capacity to transmit light. This technology creates new and exciting opportunities for practical applications as well as architectural design. Without sacrificing durability, this concrete can produce eye-catching visual effects like illuminated floors and walls by incorporating optical fibers or light-transmitting aggregates.

Light-conducting concrete is made by carefully mixing and arranging the components to guarantee that the light-transmitting components are dispersed uniformly. This aids in preserving the material’s structural integrity and producing the appropriate lighting effects. The specifics of this technology also necessitate taking into account elements like the type of optical fibers utilized and the thickness of the concrete.

With the increasing popularity of light-conducting concrete, it is critical to comprehend its benefits as well as its drawbacks. It provides a fresh approach to improving both the functionalities and aesthetics of a variety of building projects, from contemporary office spaces to creative installations. To make sure it fits the requirements of your particular project, you should assess the cost and technical requirements related to its production and installation.

All things considered, light-conducting concrete is an amazing development in building materials. Its capacity to combine concrete and light creates new possibilities for creative design while keeping the durability needed for everyday use. With continued development, this technology should become a more cost-effective and flexible solution for the building and architectural industries.

Video on the topic

Transparent light-conducting concrete in the interior.

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