If repairs are being made in your house or apartment, then it is impossible to do without alabaster. What is this material obtained from, is it harmful to human he alth? Alabaster - what is it? All these questions are answered below.
Material specifications
Building material, distinguished by its viscosity and obtained from gypsum, is called alabaster. Very often it is used for the manufacture of various products, as well as during repair work. Building gypsum is another name for the material.
The basis of alabaster is gypsum - a natural material in its origin. Building gypsum (alabaster) is an environmentally friendly substance that does not cause any harm to human he alth. It is characterized by excellent sound insulation and water resistance. The scope of alabaster is quite wide. It is used in the production of various molds, building products.
When carrying out repair work, the material is ideal for sealing cracks, leveling floors and walls. The solution of alabaster, when dried, is not subject to cracking and forms a thin, even and smooth layer, which is applied to a clean treated surface, which,if required, coat with a deep penetration primer.
Having studied the characteristics of the material, you can easily answer the question of what alabaster is.
A trip to history
As a building material, alabaster has been used since ancient times. Its natural softness makes its processing simple and does not require complex and durable tools. The material was used to make sculptures, vessels, and other household utensils. For this, calcite was used. Now he is in little demand. Gypsum alabaster is popular in construction.
Methods for obtaining alabaster
Building gypsum looks like a powder obtained from gypsum stone. To do this, it is subjected to firing, and then crushed. The main advantage of alabaster, which distinguishes it from similar materials, is its rapid hardening. This is worth remembering when studying the question of how to breed alabaster.
This property of the material must be taken into account when creating a plaster test, before pouring it into molds. Usually the solution is prepared in a ratio of 2/1, where 2 parts is alabaster, and 1 part is cold water. It should be remembered that the gypsum mortar must be used as soon as possible, otherwise it will harden. If you need to increase the setting time, then small amounts of animal glue are added to the alabaster.
Pros and cons of alabaster
Construction gypsum is used for repair work in premises where people will subsequently live.
To the disadvantages of the material can beattributed low strength and low moisture resistance. These disadvantages can be reduced by using special additives.
Where can I buy building plaster
Manufacturers produce about 10 different brands of alabaster. You can buy it in hardware stores, packed in bags of various weights. Keep building gypsum in a dry, well-protected place, preferably no more than 6 months.
Field of application of building gypsum
Alabaster - what is it, where do manufacturers get raw materials for its manufacture? In quarries, natural gypsum is mined, which is subjected to subsequent heat treatment. Later, the annealed gypsum is ground into a fine powder in special mills.
Alabaster is used when leveling walls, floors, ceilings in rooms with minimal air humidity. It is great for making moldings, gypsum boards.
It is possible to increase the moisture resistance of building gypsum by adding synthetic resins or organosilicon compounds to the solution. Cover films and impregnations from hydrophobic substances are also popular. Products made of alabaster are fire resistant and are destroyed by fire only after 6 hours of intense heating. Therefore, they are often used as fire retardant coatings.
As is the case with any other material, there are many nuances in the application of this one that should be studied if you are going to work with it and want to know: alabaster - what is it.
How to make plaster dough
Preparing a solution of building gypsum at the rate of 1 kg of material per 0.5 liters of water. First, water is poured into the container, and then the material is carefully poured into it, while stirring it so that lumps do not form. The mixture should have the consistency of sour cream. The decision of the question of how to breed alabaster must be taken very seriously. In many ways, the final result of the work will depend on this.
It should not be forgotten that the solution hardens within half an hour, and sometimes faster. If the prepared mixture has thickened, then it should not be diluted with water, and this is unlikely to work. To increase the setting time of the solution, you can add a little carpentry or wallpaper glue to it.
To improve the water resistance of alabaster, it can be dyed or coated with a special waterproof paste.
Gypsum dough is applied with a spatula or trowel, after finishing work, the tool must be washed well.
Store alabaster in rooms where air humidity does not exceed 60%.
Conclusion
By adopting the rules for working with alabaster and adhering to them, you can perform all the required construction or repair work with high quality.
