Liquid glass for concrete waterproofing. Concrete and ordinary glass? Broken glass as concrete filler

However, the expansion of the extraction of the main types of concrete aggregates cannot always be realized. Deposits of non-metallic materials such as building stone, sand and gravel mixtures and building sands cannot always be used, since they are built up, located in floodplain terraces of rivers or in other protected areas. At the same time, household and industrial cullet, which is not currently marketed, but has high strength characteristics and availability, is practically not used as a concrete filler. In our country, about 35-40 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated annually, while only 3-4% of MSW is recycled. The amount of cullet for different territories is 6-17 wt. %. The annual volume of cullet that ends up in solid domestic waste landfills is 2-6 million tons. Compared to the annual need for aggregates, this value is small, but it is necessary to take into account the environmental effect not only from the disposal of the MSW component, but also the possibility of reducing the extraction of natural resources when replacing on raw materials of anthropogenic origin. In addition, the use of waste is 2-3 times cheaper than natural raw materials, fuel consumption when using certain types of waste is reduced by 10-40%, and specific capital investments by 30-50%.

However, the problem of the interaction of soda-lime silicate glass with cement stone creates serious problems when using cullet as an effective filler in cement composite materials. The same can be said about many glass-containing materials - mineral and glass fibrous materials (wool), fiberglass, foam glass, which could be used as effective aggregates in cement compositions.

As a result of the alkali-silicate reaction, a gel is formed, which swells in the presence of moisture, leading to the formation of cracks and the destruction of concrete. This reaction can also occur in ordinary concrete if the naturally occurring filler contains reactive (usually amorphous) silica. On the one hand, the glass filler contributes to the alkali-silicate reaction in concrete due to the fact that the glass contains Na + on the surface, which can create a certain concentration of NaOH in the cement composition even in the absence of alkali in the original cement, and on the other hand, it is glass that contains compounds on the surface silicon oxide in amorphous form. Known studies of soda-lime glass as a cement paste filler. In this case, cullet of various composition and dispersion was added to the cement composition, and the expansion and strength of the resulting concrete were mainly investigated. So research was carried out at Columbia University (USA) by Professor S. Meyer. It was found that the addition of glass to the composition in most cases leads to the process of alkali-silicate interaction and a decrease in strength. Also studies of the effect of temperature and glass composition on the process were carried out. Highly dispersed glass powders have been found to result in no sample expansion. The authors make an assumption about the high rate of the alkali-silicate reaction in this case, which leads to the completion of the process in 24-28 hours, as a result of which the expansion and destruction of the samples cannot be recorded in the future. It can be assumed that as possible ways to suppress the process of alkali-silicate interaction in glass-cement compositions, the authors propose the use of glass of a certain granulometric composition, the addition of fine glass, and the modification of the composition by adding lithium or zirconium compounds.


Rice. one. The dependence of the strength of concrete compositions on the size of the glass filler in different periods of time with and without additional alkali in the composition: 1 - at the age of 13 weeks without alkali; 2 - at the age of 1 week without alkali; 3 - at the age of 13 weeks

In this paper, various options for suppressing the alkali-silicate interaction were considered when using glass cullet and its processing product, foam glass, as fillers.

The experiments were carried out in accordance with ASTM C 1293-01 at elevated temperature. To do this, standard samples of concrete 250 mm long were kept at a temperature of 60°C for three months. Samples were periodically removed from the oven to control expansion. After the sample was cooled to room temperature, its length was measured using an optical dilatometer. The strength control of the samples was carried out on an IP 6010-100-1 compression test machine. For the manufacture of samples, standard cement M400 produced by the Pashiysky cement plant was used. Cullet was obtained by crushing in a hammer mill followed by grinding in a vibrocentrifugal mill VCM_5000. Used granulated foam glass produced by CJSC "Penosital" (Perm).

To assess the intensity and depth of the alkali-silicate reaction, a number of experiments were carried out on the interaction of cement material with glass of various fractions, both in the absence of additional free alkali in cement and in its presence. The main parameter characterizing the course of the reaction is the expansion of samples of concrete composites. An indirect confirmation and consequence of this reaction was a decrease in the strength characteristics of the obtained concretes. As reference samples, in which the reaction should not proceed, concretes with a crystalline filler - quartz sand were taken.

It was revealed that a significant expansion of the samples, characteristic of the alkali-silicate interaction, is observed only in concretes with large maximum of the studied fractions, more than 1.25 mm, and the effect is enhanced with the additional introduction of alkali into the composition of concretes. The dependence of compressive strength on the holding time of concretes made it possible to reveal an abnormally high strength value for samples of alkali-free concretes when using fillers of both the minimum and maximum investigated fractions. Moreover, the strength of the resulting concretes significantly exceeds the strength of concretes without glass filler. This feature suggests a significant effect of the size of the filler fraction on the strength of the resulting concrete. The corresponding dependences of concrete strength on the filler fraction in the initial and final periods of cement stone formation are shown in Fig. one.

On all curves, a pronounced minimum can be traced, corresponding to the filler fraction 0.1-0.3 mm. The nature of the dependences of strength on the dispersion of the filler remains unchanged - with a steep increase in the area of ​​decreasing the size of the filler and a smooth increase in the area of ​​increasing the size of the filler particles when using alkali-free compositions and a slight increase and stabilization of strength in the area of ​​increasing the size of the filler particles when using alkaline compositions. Over time, the nature of the curves does not change, but they shift upward - to higher strength characteristics as the cement stone hardens.

Therefore, the use of coarse cullet - preferably 1.2 mm or more - is possible as a filler in concrete, and the strength of these composites exceeds the strength of ordinary concrete on sand aggregate. However, when using such aggregates, there are at least two problems associated with the possibility of alkali-silicate interaction. Firstly, the presence of free alkali in cement or other concrete components inevitably leads to the occurrence of alkali-silicate interaction and a decrease in the strength characteristics of concrete. Secondly, in the process of large-tonnage production, it is difficult to prevent spontaneous crushing and abrasion of a large fraction, which will also inevitably lead to a decrease in the quality of the resulting concrete. When the filler particle size is less than 50 microns, an abnormal increase in strength occurs, which significantly exceeds the strength of compositions on a standard quartz sand filler. Such an increase in strength can be explained by the ability of dispersed glass to enter into the processes of formation of new phases during the formation of cement stone due to the high specific surface area of ​​glass powders. This feature of highly dispersed glass can be used both to suppress the process of alkali-silicate interaction in those concrete compositions when the reaction takes place, and to create binders based on dispersed glass.

The problem of large fractions of cullet with a high content of alkali, as a filler in concrete, can be partially solved with additional suppression of the reaction of alkali-silicate interaction. For this, two easily implemented technological ways are outlined.


Rice. 2. Concrete with aggregate of foam glass gravel at various degrees of filling: a) ratio (mass.) foam glass / (cement + sand) 0.265; b) ratio (wt.) gravel/cement 1.6

Glass to order is an indispensable material in the production of dishes, building materials, furniture and interior items. However, glass has one big drawback - it is very fragile and crumbles easily. Large and small fragments have sharp edges that are easy to cut. Once inside the human body, glass fragments can cause bleeding, and glass dust that settles in the lungs remains there forever and leads to serious illness. Due to the great danger to human health, the disposal of glass fragments has certain difficulties.

Glass practically does not decompose in natural conditions, since the main component in its manufacture is sand.

What can be done with broken glass, and how can it be properly disposed of or recycled without causing damage to the environment?

If the volumes of broken glass are small and you have creative potential, you can use fragments to decorate the interior. Shards of flat glass are suitable for making stained glass windows. For their coloring, you can use stained glass paints or colored adhesive film. From small fragments, you can make a mosaic and decorate a vase or flower pot with them. At the same time, one must not forget about safety precautions when working with glass.

The use of broken glass to decorate the garden in the form of mosaic borders is not recommended, as the glass may eventually crumble from the bonding base and fall into the ground. Some also advise burying glass shards around the perimeter of the garden area or using it as filler when building a house foundation, as this is an effective way to control moles and rats. But these ways of using broken glass also carry a serious potential threat to humans.

The best way to use broken glass in construction is to crush it and add it to the cement mortar. Glass fragments for grinding can be loaded into a concrete mixer by adding water, sand and gravel. This method of processing cullet makes it possible to produce small glass chips with rounded edges, which will serve as excellent thermal insulation during the construction of the foundation, and also increase the strength of concrete. Processed glass chips can be an alternative to sand and gravel.

The same method of processing broken glass in a concrete mixer is also suitable for obtaining the so-called sea glass. In its natural form, this glass is found on sea coasts. It has good decorative properties and smooth edges on the entire surface. This allows the wide use of "sea glass" for the manufacture of jewelry and mosaics of any type.

If the volumes of cullet are large (usually in construction and in the production of window structures), then it is best to hand over glass fragments to cullet dealers. Firms that buy up broken glass then resell it to glass factories.

Custom glass can be 100% recycled, saving natural resources. Recycled glass can replace up to 95% of raw materials in the glass industry. Each ton of recycled glass allows you to save a little less than a ton of natural materials used in its manufacture. Energy costs in the production of raw glass are reduced by 2–3% for every 10% cullet in the material's recipe. At the same time, recycled glass is a much cheaper raw material than natural components. Thus, glass recycling is a very environmentally friendly process.

Another option for using broken glass in large volumes is the manufacture of glass tiles. Glass fragments are crushed in a crusher, mixed with dyes and polyester resin, then poured into special molds of various sizes and textures. When pouring glass, a vacuum is created to eliminate air bubbles in the finished tile. The resulting facing tiles can be used for finishing kitchens, bathrooms and even exterior facades of houses. This glass tile manufacturing technology is a good idea for small and medium-sized businesses, since the cost of raw materials and equipment is low, and the cost of its imported counterparts is quite high.

If you apply the creativity of each person, then broken glass is an indispensable material in all kinds of folk art products, ranging from building materials, where broken glass can be added to concrete for greater strength, they can also be added to all kinds of panels, cinder concrete, and can also be used when decorating facades, with all kinds of decorative and applied products, because broken glass powder in combination with glue or various varnishes with the addition of color can be a good stained glass material, and if you also heat it up, you will get all kinds of lamps interspersed glass and plastics.

Also, broken glass to order can be used to develop the psychophysiological capabilities of a person, for example, small broken glass can be consumed to train walking barefoot. And you can also use them in the beds so that the grass does not grow, falling asleep the territory.

Conclusion: broken glass is by and large the sand from which this glass is made, so where sand is used, broken glass can also be used.

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Currently, one of the alternatives to plain concrete is glass concrete. This building material differs from ordinary concrete in greater strength, frost resistance and thermal conductivity. Today there are 6 types of glass concrete on the market, each of which has its own differences and features. The material can be made independently at home, while its properties will be at the highest level.

A bit of history

On the one hand, there is concrete, which causes pollution, in particular due to the cement used in its composition. On the other hand, there is glass waste that can be completely recycled using a complex and costly process. The solution to encapsulate glass in concrete came from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation following a series of studies published in October 2016.

Concrete is one of the widely used building materials in the world. In the United States, where the study was conducted, 600 million tons of concrete were produced in 2015. However, it is one of the materials with the highest negative environmental impact due to the cement used to make it.

To reduce its carbon footprint, the concrete industry has begun using two main cement substitutes: coal ash and slag, a by-product of steel production. These substitutes have reduced carbon emissions by 25 to 40% per tonne of concrete, increased strength and reduced costs.

But these replacements aren't ideal: they contain the heavy metal mercury, which makes them potentially toxic. Producers and users are still dependent on fossil fuels:“As more and more companies try to reduce their carbon footprint and use renewable energy, the use of fossil fuel by-products in their factories is increasingly seen as counter-intuitive and controversial,” writes Ellen MacArthur Foundation PhD.

At the same time, solving the problem of glass waste is becoming increasingly problematic. Americans fail to reuse glass after consumption - 11 million tons per year. Only one third is recycled and the rest goes straight to landfills. While glass is 100% recyclable, the study says more US cities are phasing out their recycling programs - mainly for financial reasons: sorting glass is difficult and costly.

General description and classification

Each building is a unique structure with its own characteristics. Even if a typical design is used during construction, some factors must be taken into account, for example, soil characteristics, the depth of its freezing, soil and air moisture, available wind and its strength. Taking into account these nuances, you will have to make some adjustments to the construction project.

So, if there is an increased seismic hazard in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe building, then it is necessary to increase the total footage and diameter of the reinforcement, as well as reduce the distance of its knitting. If the soil moisture at the site of the future building is too high, it will be necessary to increase the layer of concrete near the reinforcement, slowing down corrosion. In some cases, such problems are solved by replacing the calculated material with another one that has more convenient and advantageous characteristics. It is possible to make construction cheaper due to the equal replacement of building materials with more budgetary ones.

For example, an alternative option for an expensive foundation by increasing the quantity may be the use of glass concrete. However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that it includes a huge group of building materials that differ in properties, so you need to be able to understand their classification and characteristics of various types. You will also have to familiarize yourself with the strengths and weaknesses of concrete before making a choice in favor of a particular type.

Each type of glass concrete has its own properties and characteristics. Depending on this, it is worth starting when choosing a building material.

Glass reinforced concrete

This type of concrete is called composite concrete, which is an analogue of reinforced concrete. In this case, the metal reinforcing bar is replaced with fiberglass. Due to the replacement of reinforcement, composite concrete has a number of distinctive properties.

At present, more expensive composite materials based on plastic, basalt fiber or glass have replaced the expensive metal reinforcing bar. In construction, the greatest demand is for fiberglass reinforcement, which, although inferior to basalt in strength, is much cheaper. Main characteristics:

  • Light weight.
  • Basalt and fiberglass rebars are made in the form of bundles, which are rolled into a 100 mm coil.
  • Basalt fiberglass reinforcement has 100 times less thermal conductivity than metal, due to which it is not considered a cold bridge.

The glass composite material is not subject to various corrosions and is very resistant to aggressive environments, although experts recommend avoiding highly alkaline environments.

This means that the reinforcement does not change in diameter, even if a humid environment prevails around. Metal material with poor waterproofing of concrete can completely collapse. Reinforcement made of metal that has undergone corrosion begins to increase in volume by almost 10 times, which can break the concrete.

Thanks to this, it is possible to safely reduce the protective layer of concrete blocks. reinforced with fiberglass. The large thickness of the protective layer is due to the function of protecting steel reinforcement from high humidity, which impregnates the upper concrete layer, thereby preventing all possible corrosion.

When the thickness of the protective layer decreases, together with the small weight of the reinforcement itself, the weight of the entire structure also decreases, without reducing the strength index. This reduces the cost of the material, the weight of the entire structure, as well as the load on the foundation. Thus, glass-reinforced concrete is inexpensive, warmer and stronger.

With the addition of liquid glass

Liquid silicate soda glass is added to glass concrete blocks to increase resistance to high humidity and high temperatures. In addition, the material is characterized by the presence of antiseptic properties, so it is best used for pouring foundations in swampy areas, as well as in the construction of hydraulic structures:

  • decorative ponds;
  • pools;
  • wells and more.

To increase heat resistance, such blocks are used during the arrangement of boilers, stoves and fireplaces. In this case, glass is the connecting element.

Glass fiber reinforced material

Thanks to this versatile material, it is possible to produce monolithic blocks and sheet materials, which are currently purchased on the market under the brand name "Japanese wall panels".

The characteristics and qualities of this building material may change under the influence of certain additional elements or depending on the change in the amount of dyes, acrylic polymers and other additives. Fiberglass reinforced concrete is a strong, lightweight and water resistant material that has a number of valuable decorative qualities.

Glass fiber reinforced concrete includes a fine-grained concrete matrix, which is filled with sand, as well as pieces of glass fibers, which are called fibers.

Litracon, or fiberglass concrete

The main material in the manufacture is a concrete matrix, as well as oriented long glass fibers, including optical ones. They pierce through the block, and the reinforcing fibers are located between them in a chaotic manner. After grinding, the ends of the optical fibers are released from the cement laitance and can pass light through them almost without loss.

At present, the material is expensive. For one square meter of fiberglass concrete, you will have to pay about $ 1,000. But experts continue to work to reduce the cost. The building material has glass fittings. It can be imitated independently at home, if you find an optical fiber and be patient, but in this case it will not act as a construction, but, most likely, decorative.

With glass break

Thanks to this type of concrete, you can save a lot on filling materials. by replacing sand and gravel with cullet and closed glass containers:

  • ampoules;
  • balls;
  • tubes.

Crushed stone can be replaced with glass by 100%, without losing strength, and the weight of the finished block will be much less than conventional glass concrete. Beer bottles inside concrete are suitable for making this material at home.

With binder

Glass concrete with glass as a binder is used for industrial production.

At the beginning of the process, the glass is sorted and finely crushed, after which it passes through the screen and is divided into fractions. Glass particles with a size of more than 5 mm are used for the manufacture of glass concrete as a coarse aggregate, and smaller grains act as a binder powder. If at home it is possible to finely grind glass, concrete can be made independently.

For decorative purposes

Glass concrete for decorative finishes is used in different ways. Typical surface treatment, sandblasting or diamond polishing can be applied. Glass particles are monolithically mixed with concrete, but more often they are applied to the surface of fresh concrete. This method is used to add uniqueness to the floor in a room.

A logical assumption might be that decorative glass concrete would be made from recycled glass bottles, but this is not the case. Recycled glass has too many contaminants. For this, objects such as windows, glasses and mirrors are used.

Manufacturers do not use "dirty" glass containers and glass with stickers. Recycled glass is sorted by color, but it can also be mixed with each other. In any case, it melts and crushes, and is not quenched by water (which breaks glass badly). The material is then sorted by size and the edges are blunted.

Glass concrete can be bought in 20 different colors, the most expensive being red. For one bag you will have to pay $ 150.

Currently, glass concrete is widely used, and due to its unique characteristics, it is in demand in the manufacture of finishing panels, fences, gratings, partitions, decor and other products. If you master the technique of making glass concrete with your own hands at home, you can save a lot of money and create a unique design in your home.

What is glass concrete?


Traditionally, concrete has been used as the main building material. We are used to this, and not always, having conceived a new project, we study modern developments. Concrete is familiar and accessible. But there are situations in which it is worth paying attention to the novelties of the construction industry. These rightfully include glass concrete (glass-filled composite), a distinctive feature of which is increased tensile strength. This makes concrete structures much stronger. But, in order to figure out which version of glass concrete you should choose, familiarize yourself with the distinguishing features of each type.

Varieties

Depending on the form in which the composition is modified with glass, glass concrete can be of the following types:

  • glass reinforced concrete;
  • composition with the addition of liquid glass;

Glass concrete is a very flexible, elastic and high-strength material, which, while remaining concrete, is, nevertheless, unusually light.

  • glass concrete with fiber;
  • translucent array with optical fiber;
  • composition with glass cullet;
  • solution, where glass is used as a binding element.

Advantages

Due to the use of special fillers, glass concrete is superior to traditional concrete. Main advantages:

  • Reduced weight, since the main fillers - cement, fiberglass, sand, are mixed in equal proportions.
  • Increased strength, since the glass-filled composite is characterized by increased resistance to deformation, and the impact resistance parameters are fifteen times higher than the characteristics of concrete mortar.
  • Extended area of ​​use and a wide range of glass-filled concrete products.
  • A significant number of possible additives that affect the characteristics in many ways.

Glass reinforced composition

Fiberglass reinforced concrete is essentially similar to reinforced concrete. It uses instead of metal. Based on this difference, the advantages are clearly drawn:

  • increased thermal insulation;

An alternative to concrete is glass concrete, which has greater strength, frost resistance and thermal conductivity.

  • light weight. The use of composite concrete significantly reduces the load on the foundation;
  • does not freeze at negative temperatures, which makes it possible to facilitate construction work in winter;
  • affordable cost.

Liquid glass concrete

When conducting construction in regions with low groundwater, it is recommended to use a composition with the addition of liquid glass for pouring foundations. The antiseptic properties of silicate glass can be used in the construction of wells, pools and other artificial reservoirs. High heat resistance makes it possible to use in the construction of stoves, fireplaces.

Liquid glass is used in two versions:

  • The most efficient method is to dilute the glass with water, and mix the ready-made solution with concrete. If undiluted glass is introduced, this causes cracks in the top layer.
  • In the second option, glass is used as a primer. It is applied to the finished block. If another thin layer of cement with glass is applied on top, then the product will be reliably protected from moisture.

When preparing such a concrete mix, keep in mind that it hardens quickly enough. Prepare the solution in small portions in order to have time to use it without waste.

A common property for all glass concrete is concrete, in which glass is added as an integral part in various forms.

Composite with fiber

Fiber is a fiber resistant to alkali. The additive in concrete increases the strength characteristics and provides decorative properties.

Depending on the type and amount of additives, the properties of fiberglass concrete change, but remain unchanged:

  • moisture resistance;
  • increased impact strength;
  • frost resistance;
  • light weight;
  • resistance to chemical agents.

Concrete composition with optical fibers (litracon)

The main ingredients and fillers of the array are optical fibers made of glass having an increased length. When forming the composition, the fibers randomly reinforce the block, and after cleaning the ends, they freely transmit light. The ability of an array to transmit light depends on the concentration of fibers, the degree of color rendering of the material.

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The material has an increased price, but work is underway to reduce it. The use of litracon in private conditions is limited by the decorative functions of the composite, and not by its use as a building material.

Liquid silicate sodium (rarely potash) glass is added to concrete to increase resistance to moisture and high temperatures and has antiseptic properties.

Concrete filled with broken glass

Glass concrete of this type provides an opportunity to achieve savings on the use of glass fillers. The traditionally used crushed stone and sand in the glass-filled composite are replaced by broken glass. As a filler, glass production waste in the form of containers, balls, tubes, ampoules is used.

The strength characteristics of the finished material do not differ from concrete, in which crushed stone is used. At the same time, the mass of the finished product is significantly reduced, and traditional crushed stone can be completely replaced with glass filler.

Composition with a binder - glass

The scope of this material is industry. Produced industrially, it is resistant to aggressive acids, negatively perceives aggressive alkalis. The stages of industrial production include:

  • Sorting of glass mass.
  • Particle crushing.
  • Glass grinding.
  • Faction division.

Large fillers are elements larger than 5 millimeters, and the rest, smaller ones, can be used instead of sand. In the presence of a thin glass fraction, you can independently prepare such a filling.

Glass concrete is widely applicable and, due to its properties, is in great demand for the production of finishing panels, gratings, fences, walls, partitions.

Binding properties are provided by the introduction of a catalyst, since glass powder, when mixed with water, does not provide binding characteristics. The manufacturing technology provides for the dissolution of cullet with alkali - soda ash. During the reaction, the resulting silicon acids are gradually transformed into a gel that holds the filler together and hardens. The result is a durable conglomerate with acid-resistant properties and increased strength.

Concrete has been widely used in construction for many years due to its resistance to deformation and durability, but the material also has some disadvantages, the most important of which is low tensile strength. Most often, this problem is solved by metal reinforcement, but in our time more progressive solutions have appeared. You can make glass concrete with your own hands, while the material properties will be at the highest level while reducing the weight of the structure.

In the photo - the use of fiberglass allows you to give even thin concrete elements unsurpassed strength

Main types of materials

We note right away that the concept of glass concrete means a whole range of variations, we will not consider all of them, we will only get acquainted with those that are most often used and with which you can work independently. Each type has its own characteristics, which determine certain properties of the material.

composite concrete

The second name of this option is glass-reinforced concrete. It is very similar to conventional reinforced concrete options, but glass concrete technology involves the use of fiberglass rods instead of metal reinforcement.

To explain all the advantages of composite reinforcement, let's compare it with conventional metal reinforcement:

Metal Fiberglass
When exposed to moisture, it undergoes corrosion, as a result of which the frame collapses, reducing the strength of the concrete structure. Absolutely not afraid of moisture and able to withstand its effects for a long time.
The large weight of metal-reinforced structures imposes many restrictions during construction. Glass concrete products weigh much less, as a result of which they can be used almost everywhere.
The rather high cost of rebar makes the project much more expensive, to achieve high quality it is necessary to spend significant funds. The price of composite reinforcement is much lower, which makes it more affordable than conventional metal.
The weight of the metal is quite large, which creates inconvenience during work and loading and unloading. Fiberglass rods weigh 5 times less with the same diameter.
It is very difficult to transport reinforcement due to the large length of the elements. You have to hire a truck. The material is rolled into coils about 100 meters long, while the weight of one coil does not exceed 10 kg. It can also be transported in the trunk of a car.
The metal has a high thermal conductivity, as a result of which the bars serve as a kind of cold bridges in the structure. Fiberglass conducts heat 100 times less than metal, such structures are much warmer.

Such reinforcement is superior to metal in all respects, which is why it is very widely used in modern construction.

Another important advantage is that composite rods are 2.5 times more tensile, which makes it possible to use smaller diameter products without losing the strength characteristics of the structure.

Work on creating a reinforcing belt of this type is much easier and faster due to a number of reasons:

  • Light weight material.
  • Ease of connection - with the help of plastic clamps that securely fix each node.
  • In winter, metal is very cold, while fiberglass does not freeze through.

Laying a composite armored belt is much easier than using metal

Important!
It is worth remembering that the strength properties of fiberglass are much higher, so smaller diameter reinforcement can be used without loss of strength.

glass filled concrete

Such glass concrete has a number of differences, the main of which is the use of fiberglass as a filler, which determines the high performance properties of the material.

Glass fiber resistant to alkalis and other adverse effects

The main advantages of this option are the following:

  • Versatility: both panels and blocks or light and strong cladding sheets can be produced in this way. The scope of application is very wide.
  • Ease: the composition includes fine-grained concrete mixed with sand in a ratio of 50/50 and chopped glass fiber.
  • Strength fiber-reinforced concrete: in compression it is twice as stable as simple concrete, in tension and bending it is 4 times stronger, and the impact resistance is 15 times higher.
  • With the help of various additives: plasticizers, dyes, water repellents - the properties of concrete can change significantly.

But it is worth noting that the manufacture of such material is a rather complicated process, and high quality and reliability can only be achieved in the factory.

Fiber concrete sheets have a peculiar structure and can even be used as a final finish.

Concrete with the addition of liquid glass

This option cannot be called glass concrete in its pure form, however, it is worth considering it, since liquid glass is used in production. This silicate-based component gives the material high moisture resistance properties and increases resistance to high temperatures.

In addition, liquid glass has pronounced antiseptic properties, due to which it is often added during construction in swampy areas, where dampness has a particularly strong effect on structures.

Liquid glass gives concrete the highest properties of resistance to both moisture and high temperatures.

Instructions for the preparation of concrete is as follows:

  • First, concrete of the desired grade is prepared, while you should not make it too liquid.
  • Next, liquid glass is diluted with water in the proportion indicated in the instructions on the package.
  • The finished solution is added to concrete in a ratio of 1:10, after which it is necessary to mix the composition thoroughly before use.

Important!
Water that is added to liquid glass is not taken into account when preparing concrete, as it goes to maintain a chemical reaction that makes the surface resistant to moisture.

It is important to mix the solution thoroughly, then the entire surface will be protected from moisture.

Sometimes a simpler method is used: impregnation of the surface with a solution of liquid glass. But in order to achieve the best protection, it is better to apply another layer of mortar with liquid glass for concrete on top, especially since it hardens quickly enough, so the time for the work will not increase.

Everyone knows that cutting reinforced concrete with diamond wheels, as well as diamond drilling holes in concrete, are fraught with many difficulties. But the use of fiberglass elements also simplifies these difficult jobs: the material lends itself much better, and crowns and discs wear out less quickly.

Fiberglass concrete is much easier to drill

To understand the issue even better, watch the video in this article, which clearly shows some of the nuances under consideration. In general, it is safe to say that fiberglass elements are the future, and glass concrete will be used more and more every year.

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