Innovative technologies have already reached building materials. Expanded clay gravel became one of the innovations. It is made from clay of natural origin. It undergoes rapid firing in furnaces (about 30 minutes), while the temperature reaches 1300 degrees. Clay swells in a special way. As a result, clay grains (fractions) with a light porous structure and dark brown color are obtained at the output. If you break the granule, then inside the color will be almost black. Depending on the degree of processing, a dense crust forms on the surface of the granules. After cooling, the granules are sorted. Expanded clay gravel GOST, provides for granule sizes of 5-10, 10-20 and 20-40 mm. The number of granules of the wrong size should not exceed 5%.
Characteristics of building material
The advantages of this material are undeniable. They completely change the idea of building materials. Expanded clay gravel is very light, but at the same time it perfectly retains heat, is moisture resistant and fireproof, and can withstand very low temperatures. Does not deform when they are dropped. Provides excellent sound insulation, does not rot at all, does not smell of anything. At the same time, thiscompletely environmentally friendly material. After all, it contains only clay.
Application in various fields
Russia is considered one of the major producers of this product. In recent years, the production of gravel in our country has increased by 30%, the demand for it is constantly growing. Expanded clay gravel is indispensable for home insulation. The foundation, floor, external floors, insulation of water supply networks - all this can be insulated with expanded clay gravel. Lightweight but bulky, it retains heat well and is durable. In order to carry out high-quality work on insulation with expanded clay, it is necessary to take into account its bulk density. The smaller the “grains” of gravel, the greater its density per 1 sq. m. Efficiency will be higher if the height of the embankment is at least 15 cm. Gravel will help keep the heat in the house by more than 60%. The construction of new roads is no longer complete without this material. It is used to divert water when working in wet and swampy areas. For utilities, expanded clay gravel is also an assistant. It is used to maintain the desired temperature and sound insulation. In addition, it can be used repeatedly, which is especially important for emergency work.
When laying paving slabs, expanded clay serves as a kind of pillow and drains the soil. The appearance of this material also helped landscape designers. They use it to create alpine slides and artificial terraces, decorate flower beds for them. Interior designers make upexpanded clay panels on the internal and external walls of houses. Decorate them with fireplaces. Gardeners have found use for it as a good drainage for plants. In addition, expanded clay prevents the appearance of moss and parasites, thereby increasing productivity. They also insulate the roots of some plants. Remember, if you want to buy expanded clay gravel, its price depends on the size of the granules and, accordingly, the quality. The larger the granules, the lower the price. In any case, expanded clay is much cheaper than other heat-insulating materials, but is not inferior to them in efficiency.
