Lightweight concrete

The term lightweight Concrete refers to types of concrete with a low dry bulk density. Bulk densities from 350 kilograms per cubic metre are technically possible. Lightweight concrete is used to manufacture building blocks.

While grit and gravel are usually used as aggregates in the production of dense and Standard concrete, lightweight concrete contains closed-cell expanded aggregates with their own grain porosity (such as swelling clay) or polymer aggregates such as small Polystyrene balls. Lightweight concrete can also be manufactured as no-fines concrete, which does not contain fine aggregates such as sand. In this case, the granulation of the aggregates is selected so that the grains only Cement together at points and thus deliver a high porosity.

Lightweight concrete does not exhibit a high load-Bearing capacity. Only lightweight concretes with a unit weight of 500 kilograms per cubic metre and above can be used for load-bearing walls. However, it is possible to increase the Strength of the Material with Steel reinforcement.