Lightweight concrete: classification, types, how to make it yourself

Compared to conventional concrete, lightweight concrete is an inventive building material that has several advantages. Its lighter weight makes it simpler to handle and move, but it still has enough strength for a wide range of construction uses. Due to its effectiveness and practicality, this multipurpose material is becoming more and more popular among DIY enthusiasts and builders.

Lightweight concrete comes in a variety of forms, each ideal for a particular use. These consist of foamed concrete, lightweight aggregate concrete, and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Every variety has distinct qualities that make it perfect for particular applications, such as structural components and soundproofing.

Making lightweight concrete on your own can be a satisfying and economical endeavor. Understanding the proper combination of materials and the procedure involved will help you create a robust and long-lasting product that satisfies your requirements. Understanding how to create lightweight concrete can help you with both small-scale home improvement projects and larger construction jobs by providing new opportunities for your work.

Classification	Description
Aerated concrete	Made by adding aluminum powder to concrete, creating air bubbles.
Foamed concrete	Produced by mixing a foaming agent into the concrete mix, resulting in lightweight blocks.
Pumice concrete	Uses pumice stone as aggregate, offering good insulation and lightweight properties.
How to make it yourself	Mix cement, water, sand, and a lightweight aggregate like perlite or vermiculite. Add a foaming agent if making foamed concrete.

For construction projects, lightweight concrete provides strength and insulation without the bulky weight of conventional concrete, making it a flexible and effective solution. The various forms of lightweight concrete—such as autoclaved aerated, expanded polystyrene, and lightweight aggregate varieties—will be examined in this article along with their unique applications and advantages. We’ll also give you a detailed tutorial on how to make lightweight concrete yourself so you can customize it to the specifications of your project.

The concept of lightweight concrete, its types and properties

Concrete building materials that are used to construct residential buildings fall into the lightweight concrete category (LB) because of their low specific gravity and higher level of thermal energy conservation.

Material composition and classification

Dense (porous) additives are used to make the building material, which has cement as its base.

These concretes also contain special additives that are added to modify and control the properties of the final building material.

Types of LB by purpose:

LB density — from 2000 kg/cu. m.; LB strength — from B12.5.

Building material type according to structure:

• porous;
• large-porous;
• dense.

The production technology states that gas, foam, and specific air-entraining compounds help form pores in concrete blocks. The material’s technical parameters can also be met by autoclaving, heat and moisture treatment, and natural product drying.

Main characteristics and requirements

Important criteria by which choosing a building material is required:

All of the light category’s concrete products are environmentally friendly and non-combustible building materials.

Main reasons for the popularity of products

The following benefits make light group concrete building materials popular for use in private home construction:

1. Large-sized concrete blocks of relatively small weight. It is possible to carry out construction work without the use of technical means and equipment in a short time.
2. You can make LB yourself at home. This helps to save on factory-made building materials.
3. There is a large selection of lightweight concretes on the construction market, you can choose LB intended directly for the construction of external structures, thermal insulation or sound insulation of a building, construction of fences.
4. Building materials of this category are distinguished by a good combination of thermal conductivity and density.
5. The frost resistance value reaches 300 cycles.
6. Low price of the material.

A brief overview of the main representatives of this type of concrete

Building materials made of lightweight concrete include:

• expanded clay concrete;
• pumice concrete;
• vermiculite concrete;
• slag concrete;
• perlite concrete;
• expanded clay perlite concrete;
• aggloporite concrete;
• slag pumice concrete;
• shungizite concrete;
• thermolithic concrete;
• porous concrete with glassy fillers.

Expanded clay concrete

Expanded clay concrete is made of cement, water, special mortar fillers, and fine-grained sand. Filler options include algoporite, expanded clay, and porous gravel.

• the only building material from the LB category that is not subject to shrinkage;
• unlike other representatives of the group, dense expanded clay concrete is used for the arrangement of the foundation;
• density reaches 2000 kg / cubic. m;
• thermal conductivity – 0.14-0.55 W * mC;
• frost resistance – 300 cycles;
• expanded clay concrete blocks are lightweight.

The material’s brittleness, hygroscopicity, and intricate processing due to its abrasiveness are among its drawbacks.

Cellular concrete

Developers and manufacturers alike are in demand for the building material.

• aerated concrete;
• foam concrete;
• foam aerated concrete.

Concrete blocks vary in terms of composition, quality indicators, and production technology—the process of creating pores in the material.

Benefits of the cellular concrete:

• high density;
• fire resistance;
• frost resistance;
• increased ability to retain heat inside the building;
• the material can be produced in domestic conditions;
• high vapor barrier and sound insulation;
• long service life;
• environmentally friendly.

Brittleness and a low resistance to tearing are drawbacks.

Polystyrene concrete and products made from it

This construction material contains polystyrene chips in addition to sand, cement, and water. The chips increase the thermal insulation of concrete blocks. The material has a maximum density of 600 kg/m³.

These indicators identify the primary applications of the building material, which include engineering structures, residential building insulation, attic spaces, and floor screed arrangement. Furthermore, it is hardly ever utilized for structural building materials or exterior construction projects.

Distinctions between other forms of LB and polystyrene concrete:

• minimum product weight;
• absorbs less moisture;
• gives a slight subsidence;
• the lowest cost.

Sawdust concrete

The lightweight category of concrete building materials includes sawdust concrete, which has just recently entered the market.

The primary distinction is that the material is made of wood chips, or sawdust, as opposed to other materials that are occasionally used to make building materials, such as rice straw, hemp, or flax shives.

• maximum density – 800 kg / m³;
• minimum thermal conductivity – 0.07 W * mC;
• building material can be used as a heat-insulating, structural and heat-insulating.

• non-combustible material, despite the fact that it contains wood;
• environmentally safe;
• the material can be made in domestic conditions.

Of the drawbacks, its price is the only one that stands out.

Silicate concrete

The use of pre-mixed limestone with a siliceous element in place of cement is the primary characteristic of the building material.

These ingredients react chemically to form calcium hydrosilicate, which has an impact on how the mass of the solution is connected to the filler. Silicate concrete also includes blowing agents and plasticizers.

Application range for silicate blocks:

• thermal insulation of residential buildings, engineering structures;
• construction of internal walls of buildings;
• arrangement of floor panels;
• construction of flights of stairs.

• low price;
• high frost resistance;
• high density and strength;
• thermal resistance;
• long service life.

The concept of ultra-lightweight concrete

This artificial LB, which has a maximum density of 600 kg/m³, is frequently used for fence construction, building thermal insulation, and sound absorption.

During the production process, air-filled pores form inside the material, reducing the density and weight of such blocks. Due to its low thermal conductivity, ultra-lightweight concrete is frequently utilized for residential building insulation.

Alternatives for fillers in construction materials:

1. Algoporite — a product of processing fuel waste and clay. This component resembles expanded clay gravel in its properties. Density — 400-600 kg/m³.
2. Expanded clay — a product obtained in the process of processing low-melting clay. Density — 300-500 kg/m³.
3. Perlite. Filler density — 250-350 kg/m³.

The "Sovbi" building material brand is the most well-known of the ultra-light concrete grades available in the construction industry.

Foam glass concrete is included in this group as well. The primary distinction lies in the filler type—foam glass gravel. The material is frequently used to make slabs, block structures, and floor bases as well as thermal insulation for buildings.

There are many advantages to using lightweight concrete in construction, including better insulation qualities, easier handling, and decreased structural load. You can choose the best variant for your unique needs, whether they are for structural elements, insulation, or decoration, by being aware of its classifications and types.

If you have the correct materials and mix ratios, it is possible to make lightweight concrete yourself. You can experiment to get the right weight and strength for your project by experimenting with different aggregates, such as pumice, perlite, or vermiculite. To enhance the functionality and durability of your concrete, make sure it is mixed and cured properly.

Using lightweight concrete in your construction projects can save money and increase productivity. Its adaptability and versatility make it a valuable material for many applications, improving your builds’ appearance and functionality.

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