What is silicate concrete: where it is used, characteristics, pros and cons

Because of its special qualities and adaptability, silicate concrete is a kind of building material that is becoming more and more popular. This concrete, which is made of sand, lime, and water, is renowned for being strong and long-lasting. It’s not the same as conventional concrete, which mostly consists of cement as a binder. Autoclaving is a high-pressure steam curing technique used in the manufacturing of silicate concrete that improves its physical properties.

The ability of silicate concrete to withstand weathering and chemical attack is one of its main benefits. This makes it a fantastic option for buildings subjected to severe weather. It also has strong thermal insulation qualities and is resistant to fire, both of which help buildings use less energy. Its even surface makes finishing simple and eliminates the need for extra plastering or coatings.

Silicate concrete is frequently utilized in pavements, residential and commercial construction, and even the manufacturing of concrete blocks and panels. Because of its practical advantages as well as its aesthetic appeal, architects and builders who want to design long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing structures often choose to use this material.

Silicate concrete, like any material, is not without its problems, though. Its production process is more intricate, and it can be more costly than regular concrete. Furthermore, even though it performs admirably in many situations, it might not be appropriate for all kinds of construction projects, especially ones that call for exceptionally high load-bearing capacities.

Sand, lime, and water are combined to create silicate concrete, a versatile building material renowned for its strength and ability to insulate against heat. Because it is strong and resistant to weathering, it is frequently used in the construction of walls, floors, and other structural elements. Many builders find this material to be appealing because of its many benefits, including environmental friendliness, fire resistance, and sound insulation. It does, however, have certain disadvantages, such as a longer curing period and possible moisture absorption problems. Determining whether silicate concrete is the best option for your building project can be aided by being aware of its features, benefits, and drawbacks.

Raw materials for silicate concrete mixtures

Lime is the primary raw material used in the manufacturing of silicate concrete. Lime needs to fulfill specific requirements in order to obtain the material’s necessary technical and operational qualities.

• Uniform firing of the material.
• The hydration process must take place with moderate heat release, with medium intensity.
• The content of periclase (magnesium oxide) is less than 5%.
• The period of slaking of lime is a maximum of 20 minutes.

1. Shale or coal ash.
2. Siliceous fillers – blast furnace slag, finely ground quartz sand, thermal power plant ash.
3. Waste from the production of expanded clay fillers.

Fine or medium fraction quartz sand is the most widely used filler. Large clay inclusions can weaken the finished product’s resistance to frost and reduce its strength. Concrete’s strength and resistance to freeze-thaw cycles both rise as the percentage of quartz sand decreases.

For the creation of silicate concrete, quartz sand should have the following ideal composition: at least 80% silica, no more than 10% clay inclusions, and up to 0.5% mica admixture.

Types of silicate concrete structures

Concrete that is silicate-based can be unique and structural. Three primary categories of material can be identified within these categories: cellular, light, and dense/heavy.

Dense heavy concretes

This kind of silicate concrete can have fine or coarse grains depending on the siliceous fillers used in its production. Fine-grained mixtures are more widely used; small fractions of quartz sand are used in their creation. Concrete has a density of 1800–2200 kg/s3.

One of this kind of silicate concrete’s primary benefits is its inexpensive price and uniform structure. The percentage of fine-grained sand in the material determines its strength. These kinds of heavy concretes are required for the production of columns, floor panels, stairwells, flights, and reinforced railway sleepers.

Light

Porous fillers, which take the shape of crushed stone or gravel, such as pumice, expanded clay, and perlite, are used to create light silicate concretes.

These concretes, which have a density of 1400 to 1800 kg/m3, are utilized in the construction of reinforced concrete structures.

Cellular lightweight

Depending on their composition and method of production, these concretes can also be classified into multiple types. Concretes with foam silicate and gas silicate are available. The thin-dyed lime-creamy mixture is combined with special foam to make the foamsilicate, which is subsequently processed in an autoclave. Aluminum powder is added to the lime-siliceous mixture to create gas silicate. In contemporary construction, the material is more prevalent.

Main characteristics

Limestone combined with siliceous material serves as the binding agent in silicate concrete, which has a colorless appearance. The constituents undergo a chemical reaction to produce calcium hydrosilicate, which fuses the filler and monolith together. Although there are some distinctions, the silicate substance’s qualities are generally comparable to those of cement.

• Water-repellent composition – in most cases, the mixture is impregnated, carbonized, then coated with silicon compounds that repel moisture.
• Resistance to aggressive external factors.
• Increased number of calcium oxide compounds (due to slag additives).
• The presence of artificial pores in the structure of the material, which can be filled with foam, water, gas.
• Introduction of aluminum powder or hydrogen peroxide to the composition to obtain aerated concrete, foam silicate.

But, you must keep in mind the possibility of corrosion when using silicate concrete. The substance’s density and the operating environment affect the process.

The reinforcement does not corrode under normal circumstances or with little maintenance, but it does collapse when the room’s humidity rises, there is no anti-corrosion compound applied to the metal, and the building’s climate changes.

• The level of water absorption depends on the method of compaction of the mixture, is at the level of 10-18%. The value can be reduced by treating the finished monolith or blocks with special water-repellent silicon substances.
• Frost resistance – 50-100 cycles.
• High level of sound / heat insulation.
• High heat resistance, the ability to withstand sudden changes in temperature.
• Strength – quite high, the exact indicator depends on the brand and density.
• Working period – up to 70 years.
• Relatively low cost.

Silicate concrete is frequently utilized as a low-cost building material for residential structures. Government programs provide funding for the industry’s development. An artificial stone with excellent strength and resistance to frost is formed inside the solution once it has solidified.

The amount of calcium oxide in the mixture determines the final product’s quality, which is based on how finely ground the sand is. Sand and lime react to form calcium oxide, which fortifies and gives the mixture unique properties.

Silicate concrete is distinguished by its special qualities and adaptability. It is a well-liked option for many different construction projects because of its strength, resilience, and superior thermal insulation. These characteristics make this material particularly valuable when building residential and commercial structures.

Silicate concrete has disadvantages in addition to advantages. Its high moisture absorption susceptibility can be problematic in certain environments. Its weight can also make handling and transportation on building sites more difficult. Knowing these benefits and drawbacks enables builders to choose the best times and locations for silicate concrete application.

Silicate concrete is still a dependable and effective building material in the end. Its benefits frequently exceed its drawbacks, making it a good option for a variety of building applications. Through careful consideration of the unique specifications of each project, builders can effectively utilize the properties of silicate concrete to fabricate sturdy, long-lasting, and energy-efficient structures.

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