Expanded clay : use for insulation of walls, floors and roofs

production expanded clay

If we translate the name of this material to the Greek language, it literally means "baked clay."LECA is very similar to gravel, has the form of granules round or oval different sizes, which have been produced during the rapid firing fusible clays.

production process is actually divided into two main stages: first, the conditions for heat stroke, to give porosity of the material, and then the surface is melted.Thus, expanded clay finds some skin and becomes very resistant to any external influences.

quality of the resulting product is determined by the accuracy of the procedures performed.For example, the density of the expanded clay may be 200-400 kg / m3, it depends on the treatment conditions.The lower the density, the higher the degree of thermal insulation material and the structure more porous.

Plus, each granule size can range from 2 to 40 mm.They are also divided into fractions.It is based on the size, the material is conventionally divided into expanded clay gravel, crushed stone and sand.

From the basic properties of release: excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, moisture and frost resistance, durability and reliability, fire resistance, environmental friendliness, chemical inertness, acceptable cost and, at the same time, high quality.

Keramzit: application

Very often the question arises - why there is a concrete block? Through a variety of characteristics of the material, its scope is vast.Firstly, because it makes insulation of walls, floors, basements, roofs.For example, floor screed with expanded clay reduces about 70-75% of the total heat loss.In addition, it creates via piping and insulation.Secondly, it used for laying the foundations of all possible to reduce depth.

Thirdly, use of expanded clay at the device and paving garden paths is necessary.Because it makes a special cushion that forms a dense layer and can withstand considerable pressure.In addition, the tiles fits well in the concrete block.Fourth, the material is useful to gardeners, as some of its adding to the soil allows plants do not dry out .He also prevents insects and rodents destroy plant roots.

How to calculate the number of expanded clay?

Once you have determined what used concrete block, and selected it as the material for the work, there is another issue - and how much of it should be used?General advice given in this case difficult, because all depends on the floor, roof, walls (with warming).

but still want to know at least the approximate amount required for finishing.To do this, you need to determine the thermal resistance coefficient (m2 * ° C / W), registered in the SNIP II-3-79 * (for each building its own).Expanded clay, whose rate is set by this parameter, the maximum will be calculated correctly.

For example, floors of buildings that were built after 2000, must create a thermal resistance of approximately 4.16 m 2 * ° C / W, and placed under the arch - about 4.7 m2 * ° C / W.In the first case, the thickness of the layer of expanded clay should be 2 meters, in the second - 2.2 meters.

But if you do not have all of this data, and you have no idea what a snip of your home, it can be easier.Calculation of expanded clay is carried out in the usual comparison with other building materials.You just measure the thickness of which is available.

Then pretend that the 10 cm of expanded clay equivalent to 80-120 centimeters bricks, boards 25 centimeters or 60 centimeters Wall lightweight aggregate.It's simple.Well, the last stage in line with the self-defining of expanded clay consumption per square meter.