Testing methods for lightweight concrete

What is Lightweight Concrete?

Lightweight concrete, also known as foamed concrete, is to fully foam the foaming agent mechanically through the foaming system of the foaming machine, and evenly mix the foam with the cement slurry, and then go through the pumping system of the foaming machine for cast-in-place construction. Or mold forming, a new type of lightweight thermal insulation material containing a large number of closed pores formed by natural curing. It belongs to the bubble-like thermal insulation material. Its outstanding feature is the formation of closed foam pores inside the concrete, which makes the concrete lightweight and thermal insulation. For air-entrained concrete, the difference between the two is only the difference between the shape of the pores and the means of aeration.

Testing methods for lightweight concrete

1. The test block floats in water without melting or settling

It shows that the lightweight concrete (foamed concrete) has been completely hardened and the pores are completely closed. The closed-type foam concrete air does not produce convection in the body, reduces the conduction, radiation and diffusion of temperature, and the heat energy gradually weakens in the pores to achieve the effect of heat insulation. Moreover, the water absorption rate is as low as about 5%, and the physical properties of sound insulation, water resistance, compression resistance and bending resistance are the best.

2. If the test block sinks slowly

The water absorption rate reaches 30%, which exceeds the specific gravity of water, indicating that the pores of lightweight concrete (foam concrete) are semi-open, and some pores are connected from the surface to the inside, and the air will generate convection in the body. As the opening degree of the pores increases and shortens, the water absorption and storage rate will also increase to about 50% with the pore connectivity rate, and the physical properties of heat insulation, heat preservation, sound insulation, waterproof, compression resistance and bending resistance will be greatly reduced.

3. The test block quickly sinks into the water

The water absorption rate exceeds 30%, which exceeds the specific gravity of water, indicating that the pores in the material are fully open, forming a channel from the surface to the inside. The air generates convection in the channel, and the air conducts the temperature of the material through the water in the convection. , radiation, diffusion, and the water absorption and storage rate will also increase to more than 50% with the stomatal connectivity rate, and the material loses the performance requirements of heat insulation and heat preservation.

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