Barite plaster belongs to special types of building materials. Its feature is radiation protection. Most often it is used in medical institutions, enterprises, research laboratories, but it is also suitable for residential premises.
General concept
Barite plasters are a dry cement-sand mixture. Unlike ordinary plaster, they contain barium sulfate concentrate. It is this filler that is responsible for the specific properties of the material. High-grade cement acts as a binder, and there are also various plasticizers that are responsible for the plasticity of the solution.
The barite sand included in their composition completely replaces the use of lead sheets. It is a cheaper way to protect against gamma radiation, but no less effective.
Application
Barite plaster must be properly applied to the wall. To do this, you need to have certain skills. In principle, the application technology resembles the workwith conventional solutions. However, there are still some nuances:
- Surface preparation. The old finish is beaten off completely, the walls are primed, and only after they are completely dry, barite plaster is applied.
- The application technology is such that if its layer has a thickness of more than 30 mm, then a special mesh must be stuffed onto the wall surface. It will create the strongest and most reliable connection between the mortar and the base.
- The mixture is applied in several layers. The thickness of each of them should not exceed 10-15 mm. It is necessary to withstand the time of their drying, in some cases it can be up to 3 days.
- Each layer is additionally treated with primers.
- The process of applying barite plaster itself takes place along the lighthouses, which are removed immediately after the mortar has set.
- Work must be done in a room with a temperature of 15 to 20 0C.
- Consumption of plaster per 1 sq. m is about 20 kg, provided that the applied layer is not thicker than 10 mm.
Scope of application
Most often this type of plaster is used in rooms where examinations are carried out using special equipment, which is a source of gamma radiation. These are medical centers, hospitals, x-ray rooms, as well as enterprises engaged in certain research.
In order to stop the penetration of radiation, the walls are lined with lead sheets, howeverthis method is quite costly. An alternative option is to apply barite plaster to the surface with a layer of at least 25 mm. A coating of this thickness has the properties of lead and is a worthy replacement for it. Since sheets of such metal are a scarce commodity, its use is not very common compared to plaster.
Material features
Barite plasters are a specific type of building materials, so when working with them, you need to know their features. We list the main ones:
- If the room has wooden walls, then the applied layer of plaster must be increased by 1 cm or more.
- To ensure complete protection against radiation, the solution is applied on both sides. That is, the surface of the walls is processed both from the outside of the room and from the inside.
- Minimum thickness for ceiling 5mm, floor and walls 30mm.
- Barite plaster is applied only by hand using special tools designed for such work. Layers are applied sequentially, after complete drying of the previous ones, the thickness of which should not exceed 5 mm.
- It is very important when performing work to observe a certain temperature regime and maintain high humidity in the room. Such conditions must be observed after the completion of work for 2 weeks. The optimum indoor temperature is 15-20 0C.
How to choose barite plaster?
Not many manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of this type of plaster. The highest quality are:
- Fullmix barite plaster, it contains binder cement, barite sand and plasticizers. The cost of one package is from 700 rubles.
- Sorel Barit M150 contains barite concentrate, magnesia cement, polymeric and mineral additives that are responsible for the main qualities of the solution. Estimated price - 1500 rubles (20 kg of dry plaster and 5 liters of mortar).
- Mixtures "Runit" and "Roshi" are identical in composition to Fullmix.
- "Alfapol SHT-Barite" - dry mix with magnesian binder cement and barium concentrate. The cost varies from 800 to 1000 rubles.
The mixtures described above should only be diluted with water before application, maintaining a certain correspondence. However, if necessary, you can prepare the solution yourself by purchasing all the components separately.
Preparatory work
Barite plasters, like any other types, are applied only on a previously prepared surface. To do this, it is necessary to completely remove the old coating, clean the base from dust and dirt and then treat it with a special primer mixture. Depending on the thickness of the applied layer, a reinforcing mesh is stuffed, which ensures reliable and strong adhesion of the plaster mortar to the surface base.
Barite plasters: work rules
- The dry mixture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 kg - 200 ml. The liquid should be at room temperature: approximately 20 0C. You can mixmanually or use a special construction mixer. The finished solution should have a uniform consistency. After mixing, it is necessary to withstand 5-8 minutes and only after that you can directly start applying.
- The total thickness of the plaster layer can be up to 1 cm. However, it can only be applied sequentially, dividing into several stages.
- When plastering with barite solutions, drafts in the room are not allowed. It is recommended to completely prevent direct sunlight from reaching the surface during and after work for 2 weeks.
- The finished mixture is applied using conventional tools that are used when plastering surfaces.
Building material, which includes barium sulfate concentrate, is indispensable for finishing rooms with a high level of gamma radiation. In order to completely protect people from possible radiation, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions and rules when working with this type of plaster.
