Vermiculite Lightweight Concrete

Vermiculite is a type of aggregate that is created when volcanic rock is heated to extreme temperatures.

Vermiculite lightweight concrete. Application of vermiculite based roof screed photo courtesy of the strong company the finer grades of exfoliated vermiculite can be used with portland cement and other aggregates placing aids and water to produce roof and floor concrete screeds or concretes which have the benefit of being both lightweight and insulating. Here s what you need to know about using vermiculite. Lightweight and concrete screeds. These systems will use a lightweight concrete consisting of portland cement water and vermiculite concrete aggregate.

Portland cement sand vermiculite and glass fiber. It s a mineral that s expanded by heating in a furnace. Vermiculite concrete roof deck systems allow architects engineers and contractors versatility in design high performance and reasonable cost. A longer curing time equals stronger concrete.

Vermiculite is made from compressed dry flakes of a silicate material which is absorptive and spongy. Density less than 2 000 kg m3 125 lb ft3. Nukokrete is a dry premix consisting of vermiculite which is a lightweight insulating aggregate portland cement and additives that can be gunnited or trowel applied as required on site. It looks a bit like mica.

When water is added to vermiculite the flakes expand into a worm like shape and act like an absorbing sponge. Perlite lightweight concrete offers the following benefits. The color of vermiculite is a golden brown to a dark brown and is a sometimes difficult to tell from the potting soil it s mixed with. Vermiculite concrete roof deck systems allow architects engineers and contractors versatility in design high performance and reasonable cost.

I wetted the vermiculite slightly first before adding it to the sand. Vermiculite a mineral that has few uses in its crude state becomes when heated and exfoliated an expanded light aggregate of great value in the production of lightweight fill and insulating concrete. It is normally made simply by mixing exfoliated vermiculite as the aggregate with cement and water plus additives such as plasticisers if required. Since the 1920 s the mining and processing of vermiculite has grown to a better than 30.

Vermiculite is a natural mineral of the phyllosilicategroup which is exfoliated in purpose designed commercial furnaces nukocrete is economical everlasting. So for this blend i picked up a bag of number three vermiculite. Vermiculite concrete introduction vermiculite concrete is a low density non structural construction product. It is insulating both thermally and acoustically and intrinsically fire resistant.