Structural Lightweight Concrete with Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?| Lightweight Construction Material

Structural lightweight concrete uses Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? as the aggregate material to cut weight, improve strength, and enhance the overall durability of precast concrete and ready-mix concrete. Let’s explore the benefits of structural lightweight concrete with Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?now, and discuss it in further detail.?

What Is Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?? Explaining Expanded Clay Aggregate For Structural Lightweight Concrete?

Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? is a class of lightweight aggregates made from clay and is used as a lightweight construction material. Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? is made in a rotary kiln, which is heated to a temperature of more than 1200°C.

This causes the light-expanded clay aggregate to form oval or round balls, and the gases within the clay expand and create thousands of tiny air bubbles within each Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? pellet. The process of creating expanded clay aggregate can be fine-tuned to create Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? of varying densities and sizes.?

Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? is one of the best lightweight aggregates for use in ready-mix concrete and precast concrete, and has lots of benefits when used in structural lightweight concrete applications, especially when compared to other lightweight aggregates. Structural lightweight expanded clay aggregate’s cellular structure provides internal curing through water entrainment which is especially beneficial for high-performance concrete, internal curing improves the contact zone which mitigates microcracking. Let’s take a look at its benefits of choosing Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? during the concrete mix design process now, and explore this lightweight construction material in further detail.?

The Benefits Of Expanded Clay Aggregate In Ready-Mix & Precast Concrete?

So, why is Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? used by leading concrete contractors over other lightweight aggregates? Here are a few reasons it’s the preferred lightweight construction material for concrete mix design.?

●??The reduced overall weight of ready-mix concrete – One reason Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? is so popular in concrete mix design is that it reduces the overall weight of ready-mix concrete during shipping and when casting structural lightweight concrete components.?

●??Lower cost for shipping precast concrete components – Just like with ready-mix concrete, using light expanded clay aggregate for precast concrete panels and components means lower overall weight due to how light Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?lightweight aggregates are – reducing concrete contractor’s shipping costs and the complexity of shipping precast structural lightweight concrete components to job sites.

●??Excellent insulation – Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? is one of the best lightweight construction materials for insulation when building concrete panels and other elements. Its thousands of tiny air bubbles hold air, which helps provide better overall insulation properties. This is always something to consider during the concrete mix design process. With Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?, buildings save lots of energy when heating and cooling, which allows for cost savings and the implementation of smaller, less complex HVAC systems in some cases.

●??Improved soundproofing – Lightweight expanded clay aggregate also helps absorb sound, which can be very useful when using structural lightweight concrete and ready-mix concrete to create sound barriers around roads, industrial areas, or even in buildings. The shape and structure of Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?help absorb sound and reduce the sound load on nearby areas.

●??Lower overall dead loads – This is one of the biggest reasons that Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? lightweight construction material is so popular with concrete contractors. When Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? is used in concrete mix design, dead loads can be reduced up to 20-30% due to the strength and lightweight of ready-mix concrete using Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA?. This helps reduce the overall use of concrete and steel components, improves overall structural function, and provides a better overall load-bearing structure, especially in areas where earthquake-resistant buildings are important. It is possible to obtain concrete with variable densities between the limits indicated, with strength levels starting from 15 N/mm2 up to 70 N/mm2. This concrete can be made directly on-site, mixed in concrete mixing plants, or at the prefabrication plant. Pre-mixed concrete in bags is also available and is mostly used for smaller interventions, generally in restoration works.

●?Freeze-thaw durability – Because clay absorbs very little water and Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? contains thousands of tiny air bubbles, this helps insulate structural concrete components and improves freeze-thaw durability, which is often a top concern in outdoor concrete structures located in areas with cold winters.

Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? Is an Ideal Aggregate for All Structural Concrete Applications?

For all of the above reasons and many more, concrete contractors, architects, engineers, and other building professionals have begun turning to Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? as their aggregate of choice when mixing structural lightweight concrete. With a reputable Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? supplier for lightweight aggregates, the potential of expanded concrete aggregate is nearly limitless. Discover more and see how Expanded Clay Aggregate -ECA? can transform your next construction project today.?