Micro-concrete pre-casts and their use as hydraulic binding

Abstract

Research was directed, in its early stage, towards the application of micro-concrete, compounds of industrial wastes or minerals which can be chemically reactivated, cement and water, in order to obtain paving and bricks. Subsequently, tests were started to use it as hydraulic binding for organic particles. Conglomerating resins with organic particles, proceeding from agriculture and the farming industry, has resulted in obtaining plates of mechanical resistance under the structural demands of construction, which are generally permeable and fire-spreading, and are only acceptable as materials for interior finish. In the quest for improving resistance and lowering costs, research has been undertaken to use pastes or hydraulic mortars to replace these resins, without the objective being achieved due to the low percentage of particles which these accept. On observing the physical qualities of micro-concrete, an attempt was made to test it as a hydraulic binding and obtain pre-casts for housing, Monolithic paving and bricks did not offer any advantages over traditional ones as far as resistance and cost were concerned; their application could only be justified on account of their better appearance in texture and coloring. Tiles in 20 x 20 cm to 30 X 30 cm modules with the same resistance work out at 51 % cheaper than traditional ones and bricks for walling turned out having conditions similar to those currently being mechanized. Panels obtained by using micro-concrete as a binding for sawn wood measuring 230 x 50 x 6 cm, resulted in structural modular elements that are easy to assemble and have thermal, acoustic and water-proof characteristics which comply with standards and costs less than similar ones of widest use in construction. Thus they constitute a new material, which, along with continued testing for other pre-casts, may improve the characteristics of those already known, particularly in cheap housing.