WHAT IS BETTER AERATED CONCRETE OR POLYSTYRENE CONCRETE?
There are many materials used in construction to build walls and partitions. These include aerated concrete or autoclaved aerated concrete, which have long been popular due to their good thermal insulation properties and lightness. However, today, an alternative to aerated concrete has appeared on the construction materials market, which has a number of advantages. Let's consider the advantages of polystyrene concrete and how it differs from aerated concrete.
Aerated concrete is characterized by low thermal conductivity, strength, low weight and good sound insulation. However, polystyrene concrete can offer even more:
• Thermal insulation properties. Expanded polystyrene concrete as an alternative to aerated concrete has higher thermal insulation properties. Due to the presence of expanded polystyrene granules in its structure, as well as porosity, it provides effective heat and sound insulation, which reduces heating and air conditioning costs.
• Durability. Polystyrene concrete also has high strength, stability, but also has a higher plastic deformation to impact than aerated concrete. It is able to withstand significant loads and at the same time maintain its shape and integrity. This makes it a reliable material for the construction of durable structures.
• Moisture resistance. Polystyrene concrete has a low moisture absorption capacity, respectively, it is resistant to moisture and water. This is a good alternative to aerated concrete blocks, which can absorb moisture and require additional waterproofing, while polystyrene concrete retains its qualities even with prolonged exposure to moisture.
• Resistance to frost and temperature changes. Polystyrene concrete retains its properties and stability even at extreme temperatures. It does not collapse under the influence of frost, which makes it an ideal material for construction in cold climates.
• Durability. Due to the fact that polystyrene concrete contains pine resin as a binder for expanded polystyrene granules and air pores with a cement matrix. Over time, pine resin increases the strength of cement several times, thereby increasing the service life of cement to more than 100 years.
• Structural reliability. Taking into account the fact that the cement matrix is often used in combination with reinforcement for reinforcing concrete. And the thermal conductivity and vapor permeability of concrete is often the cause of the appearance of a dew point in the body of concrete, which in turn accelerates the corrosion of the reinforcement, thereby reducing its structural capacity for design loads. Then polystyrene concrete, when used as a filling of openings in reinforced concrete frames with reinforcement or for thermal insulation of beams and columns, as well as waterproofing of the foundation, does not allow the formation of a dew point in the body of concrete, thereby preventing corrosion of the reinforcement in the body of concrete. • Easy and convenient installation. Polystyrene concrete is much lighter than aerated concrete, which simplifies its transportation and installation. Due to its light weight, polystyrene concrete blocks are easier to process and install, which reduces construction time and labor costs.
Moreover, polystyrene concrete can be poured into formwork at the construction site, performing two functions at once, such as filling openings and thermal insulation of beams together with columns, as well as waterproofing of the concrete foundation.
• Resistant to frost and temperature changes. Polystyrene concrete not only provides excellent thermal insulation, but also retains its qualities in extreme temperature conditions. It does not deteriorate during freeze-thaw cycles, which makes it an ideal material for construction in cold climates.
• Environmental safety: polystyrene concrete as an alternative to aerated concrete is made from environmentally friendly materials - cement, sand, water and polystyrene granules. For example, currently all food packaging and containers for transporting products that require moisture or frost protection are made of polystyrene foam. It does not contain harmful substances and does not emit harmful gases during operation. Due to this, it is safe for human health and an environmentally friendly material.
As you can see, the difference between aerated concrete and polystyrene concrete lies in both the manufacturing methods and the operational and technical parameters.
Alternative to aerated concrete
The difference between aerated concrete and polystyrene concrete lies in their structure. Aerated concrete blocks are made of cellular concrete (porous concrete) containing air cavities filled with a gaseous substance. They require autoclave drying to increase strength, which in turn requires the use of gas or coal. While polystyrene concrete contains in its structure, in addition to cement, polystyrene granules and pine resin as a special additive that increases strength, which ensures its lightness and thermal insulation. Moreover, an autoclave is not required for the production of polystyrene concrete. No large gas costs are required.