Translucent concrete: history of creation and areas of application

A fascinating invention that’s causing a stir in the worlds of architecture and design is translucent concrete. Transparent concrete allows light to pass through, in contrast to traditional concrete, which blocks light, giving it an eye-catching appearance. This kind of concrete enhances the visual appeal of buildings by fusing conventional cement with unique optical fibers or resins that allow light to pass through the material and produce amazing effects.

When architects and engineers began looking into ways to incorporate light and transparency into concrete structures in the early 2000s, the journey of translucent concrete officially began. Aron Losonczi, a Hungarian architect, first popularized the idea by creating a technique for integrating optical fibers into concrete slabs. Concrete could now be used in previously unthinkable ways thanks to this breakthrough.

Transparent concrete is employed in many different ways nowadays. Not only can modern architecture add a touch of elegance to buildings, but it also has practical advantages. Translucent concrete, for instance, is utilized to create fashionable interior walls, visually arresting facades, and even flooring. It can change areas by letting natural light in, which lessens the need for artificial lighting and makes the space more energy-efficient.

Transparent concrete has more and more potential applications as technology advances. Its ability to combine form and function makes it an appealing option for architects and designers wishing to push the boundaries of conventional concrete, whether they are designing residential or commercial buildings. Transparent concrete’s development is evidence of how creative thinking can elevate even common materials to extraordinary heights.

Topic	Details
History of Creation	Translucent concrete was first developed in the early 2000s. It was created by integrating optical fibers into traditional concrete. The idea was to allow light to pass through while still maintaining the material"s strength and durability.
Key Inventor	Architect and engineer Li Trajkovic is credited with pioneering translucent concrete technology. His work aimed to combine aesthetic appeal with structural functionality.
Manufacturing Process	The process involves embedding thousands of optical fibers within the concrete mix. These fibers guide light through the material, creating a glowing effect and making the concrete appear translucent.
Applications	Translucent concrete is used in various architectural projects, including building facades, interior walls, and flooring. It is also utilized in artistic installations where both light and structure play a significant role.
Advantages	It allows natural light to pass through, reducing the need for artificial lighting. It also adds a unique visual effect and can enhance the design of modern buildings.
Challenges	It can be more expensive than regular concrete due to the additional materials and manufacturing processes. Also, its light-transmitting properties may not be suitable for all types of construction.
Future Prospects	As technology advances, we might see improvements in the cost and performance of translucent concrete. It holds potential for innovative architectural designs and sustainable building practices.

When, by whom and why?

Any formwork that is poured using concrete mortar produces a structure that is extremely long-lasting and resilient. The material’s initial plasticity and ultimate strength after hardening contribute to its widespread use in the global construction industry.

However, concrete also has a number of drawbacks in addition to its many benefits. The primary one is how ugly the final surface looks from the outside. Concrete surfaces need to be finished decoratively because of their gray color.

Who and when invented transparent concrete?

Hungarian architect Aron Loskonsi examined the issue of concrete surfaces internally in 2001. He came to the conclusion that altering the internal structure of concrete would be a more effective way to improve its external ugly appearance than adding decorative elements on the outside. Transparent concrete is a brand-new, highly developed building material that emerged from a series of experiments.

Despite having a very appealing appearance, transparent concrete did not become widely accepted right away. In 2005, Germany was the first country in Europe to use it as a building and structure component.

In 2012, transparent concrete blocks were introduced to Russia. Additionally, it is not widely used in our nation. This material has no equivalents in the country, and importing it from overseas is highly costly. A 10 kg block costs roughly 600 euros, not including shipping and customs charges.

For what?

A litracon’s transparency is highly individualized. It is challenging to compare its light transmission properties with those of glass. However, building walls or partitions with blocks can drastically cut down on the amount of electricity used, allowing more natural light to enter the space.

However, translucent blocks maintain a certain intimacy; through a litracon wall, you can only make out a silhouette or approximate the color, assuming independent lighting is present. You won’t be inside a glass cube.

Be aware that a transparent concrete panel or block’s thickness has no bearing on how much light it transmits. The existence of a light source is a prerequisite for this effect to manifest.

A ground-breaking invention, translucent concrete combines the classic durability of concrete with the contemporary appeal of light-transmitting materials. The development of translucent concrete as a useful building material is examined in this article, which starts with its early conceptions. It also looks at how this adaptable material is applied in different contexts, from eye-catching architectural plans to useful applications in lighting and privacy solutions, demonstrating how it mixes style and function in novel and exciting ways.

Transparent concrete

Transparent concrete is essentially fiberglass blocks filled with mortar. Apart from aesthetic appeal, the inventor of the invention sought a means of letting light into a concrete structure without going against its primary strengths.

Definition and composition

Crushed stone, sand, and cement are the ingredients of typical concrete blocks. The addition of optical fiber to the composition allows for the material to become transparent.

This removes the requirement for additional internal reinforcement and large-fraction filler. As a result, while having more visual appeal, transparent concrete blocks are just as strong as regular concrete.

In transparent concrete blocks, optical fiber makes up no more than 5% of the mass fraction. The fiberglass used has a diameter that ranges from 2 microns to 2 mm, though it can vary. Cement and finely grained purified sand make up the bulk.

Note: This material is significantly lighter than traditional concrete composition, but it also becomes much stronger over time.

Performance characteristics

Thus, we discovered that the light-transmitting capacity of concrete blocks comes from optical fiber. What about other qualities of concrete that draw builders in such a big way?

Additionally serving as a reinforcing element is glass fiber, which gives transparent blocks increased rates of the following characteristics:

• resistance to the destructive effects of moisture;
• bending and compression strength of the material;
• resistance to temperature changes.

The environmental friendliness, fire safety, sound, and heat insulation indicators are all kept up to date at the same time. Moreover, ultraviolet light has no effect on transparent concrete.

It maintains its pattern and doesn’t fade. Transparent concrete blocks in the colors black, gray, and white are available for purchase in today’s construction market.

Application area

Currently, litracon is very popular among building and interior designers, especially in the domains of industrial development and low-rise building. Transparent concrete blocks blend in seamlessly with the architecture of Art Nouveau and high-tech structures.

They create translucent concrete panels and blocks that are successfully used in:

• as the main material for load-bearing walls;

• for internal and external cladding of building surfaces, including the floor;

• for the formation of zonal fences and the construction of interior partitions;

Transparent concrete is used to create small architectural forms (MAF), such as street lamp shades, benches, and fountains.

Similar to other stones possessing an intriguing composition, transparent concrete has been employed as a surface treatment for countertops, stairwells, and restroom furnishings. Examples of how Litrakon brand material has been successfully used are shown in the photo below:

Production process

Transparent concrete production is not a difficult technological process. The cost of the optical fiber used in the blocks and panels accounts for the material’s high cost rather than labor expenses associated with production. After pouring a layer of coarse-free concrete into the formwork, fiberglass is pressed into the mixture and the layer dries.

After that, the procedure is carried out once more. Every time a layer solidifies, the subsequent one is filled in. This is the method by which transparent concrete is produced; it doesn’t require sophisticated science or labor-intensive procedures. You can certainly do the labor-intensive process of making glass concrete by yourself.

We make litracon with our own hands

Many attempt to make transparent concrete by hand because branded materials are expensive. This is a very straightforward technological process, but there are some subtleties involved as well. The secret is to keep all of the component amounts precisely the same and the fillers of the highest caliber.

Furthermore, it’s critical to pay close attention to the fiberglass thread laying vector.

In order to create fiberglass concrete blocks or panels by hand, you will need to gather the following supplies:

The conventional ratio of one to three is used to prepare the concrete solution. Depending on the mass fraction of the cement, water is added as needed, but the total volume of the solution shouldn’t have more water than 50% of it.

Crucial! Care must be taken when mixing, requiring the use of specialized equipment (a concrete mixer), which needs to be kept immaculate.

Here are the directions for pouring the blocks:

1. A box is assembled from a floating, upwardly movable formwork;
2. The first thin layer of concrete mortar is poured inside the formwork;
3. Fiberglass is placed and embedded in the mortar;
4. The pouring is left at rest until the concrete sets.

After that, the procedure is carried out the required number of times in order to reach the maximum height. Once the final layer of pouring solidifies, the formwork is taken down. 48 to 72 hours after the final layer is poured, this typically occurs.

Crucial! The block is left to rest for three to five days at room temperature and moderate humidity after the formwork is removed.

In the direction perpendicular to the direction of laying the fiberglass threads, the completed block is polished and ground to a mirror shine on the working surface. Watching the video on this page will teach you more about how to make translucent concrete blocks.

Installation of panels and blocks

For forming interior surfaces and finishing facades, translucent concrete panels or blocks can be utilized. The blocks are arranged using adhesives based on epoxy resins and quartz flour, or on a cement-lime mortar binder. The resulting walls meet all the requirements for load-bearing elements of the building structure and have a strength comparable to concrete masonry.

Transparent concrete panels are fastened to a frame or anchor fasteners. Their gadget is comparable to that used in ventilated facade installations. Another use for panels is as a floor covering. The thickness of the tile has no bearing on the material’s strength.

A fascinating invention that unites aesthetics and functionality is translucent concrete. Its development, which dates back to the early 2000s, marks a noteworthy advancement in material science. Engineers and designers have transformed concrete from a purely structural material into a medium that can both support and illuminate spaces in novel and fascinating ways by incorporating optical fibers or light-conducting elements.

Transparent concrete has a wide range of fascinating applications. This material presents distinctive opportunities for fusing light and design in everything from contemporary architecture to creative installations. These days, buildings can have walls that let in natural light to create a dynamic play of brightness and shadows. In the same way, it can be applied to creative lighting schemes and striking facades in urban areas.

In the future, translucent concrete might be put to even more inventive uses. Technology will likely be used in more inventive and complex ways as production methods and technology progress. Translucent concrete is certain to have a big impact on building and design in the future, whether it’s for new lighting applications or for improving a building’s aesthetic appeal.

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