What is the difference between aerated concrete and foam concrete, where is it better to use

When building their own home, many people have a question, what is better to use from materials, aerated concrete or foam concrete? In trying to answer this question, I have read a huge amount of information on the Internet.

Of course, the main difference between foam concrete and aerated concrete is the production technology. Foam concrete is produced by mixing sand, cement, water and a foaming agent. Foam is fed directly into the mixer by the foaming agent at a given frequency and weight. During the mixing process, the particles of cement and sand envelop the foam bubbles. The mixture is poured into the assembled and greased mold. The massif acquires peel strength within 12-24 hours.

Maintaining a high-quality foam is one of the main technological challenges, which requires your constant attention. Unstable foam will cause unstable product density. But the main difficulty is the slow development of strength. Aerated concrete production requires the use of cold water, as hot water destroys the foam.

But cold water does not contribute to the development of strength, moreover, the foaming agent itself slows down the setting of cement. Thus, it will take 24 hours for the withdrawal strength to develop, and the further development of strength is also very slow. These factors directly affect the consumption of cement.

Aerated concrete

The main components for the production of aerated concrete are also sand, cement, water. These components are mixed and at the last minute an aluminum powder blowing agent is added. The mixture is poured into a mold and the reaction begins. As a result of a chemical reaction, air bubbles are formed, which explode the aerated concrete mixture. After 20-30 minutes, the reaction stops and the peel strength begins to develop in the rock mass.

Hot water is used for production, its temperature is about 40-60 ° C. Heat is also generated during the reaction, so the temperature of the massif is about 50-60 ° C. This ensures the rapid development of strength. After 2-3 hours, the array should be cut into blocks.

The main challenge lies in developing the correct process and formulation for your raw materials. There is no unique composition for aerated concrete. The factors that influence the process are water, its amount, alkalinity, and the amount of aluminum powder.

Cottages and houses built of aerated concrete have improved comfort and performance, namely:

• Breathable material. The walls of cottages and houses made of aerated concrete can "breathe";
• Aerated concrete walls keep warm in winter and cool atmosphere in summer;
• Noise isolation. Aerated concrete provides excellent sound insulation;
• Efficiency and environmental friendliness. Country houses and cottages made of aerated concrete save energy for heating;
• Lightweight finish. Aerated concrete is the ideal material for any kind of surface finish;
• Thermal insulation. Aerated concrete has more thermal insulation properties than brick, which is especially important given the rise in prices for utilities in our country.

Benefits of foam concrete:

• The foam concrete mixture does not settle. Therefore, it does not need to be compacted;
• Its own weight is reduced as it is lightweight concrete;
• Foam concrete in its fresh state has a free-flowing consistency. This property will help to completely fill the voids;
• The foam concrete structure has excellent load distribution ability;
• Foam concrete does not impose significant lateral loads;
• Foam concrete has increased resistance to freezing and thawing;
• Safe and fast work execution;
• Cost effective, less maintenance.

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of which of the materials is more suitable for construction. If the blocks are made without disturbing the technological process, then any material can be used. But you need to understand that aerated concrete cannot be made in an artisanal way, unlike foam concrete.

Therefore, the choice of material should be based primarily on the analysis of all factors. These are the properties of the land plot and the climatic conditions of the region.

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