In the most recent set of Aircrete compression checks, performed in 2024, batches with greater percentages of foam* applying Domegaia’s mixing strategy continually resulted in collapse. There are two probable factors for this: preference of foaming agent and the scale with the mixer.
The fifth trial followed the exact same regular technique as the previous four, although the Aircrete was blended for an extended time and poured differently to scale back weight disparity. The cement, water, and foam combination was drill-blended till the consistency was uniform. Also, the cylinders were very first stuffed up halfway and after that topped off. This demo noticed additional dependable cylinder weights, but there was continue to some variation. The a few cylinders weighed six.
The prices of Aircrete’s two primary foaming agent selections (seventh Generation Dish Soap and Drexel) have been analyzed, and the findings are already compiled in the desk below:
In geotechnical engineering, foamed concrete fills voids and stabilizes free or gentle soils. It Usually replaces lacking soil in subsided parts.
A: Yes, foaming agents is usually used alongside other admixtures. Prospective buyers must having said that conduct compatibility assessments. This tends to make certain no adverse reactions occur between the admixtures along with the foaming agents.
When cutting down as much as we did, it is feasible the foam doesn’t mix in addition, amplified vibration causes a lot more foam collapse throughout the mixing course of action, and/or the level of foam doesn’t scale linearly/as accurately With all the cement and water.
End users pour the concrete combination into molds or specified parts. They make sure the combine is evenly distributed to remove development disparities.
The next modify was that the foam was calculated in the independent container then additional straight into your concrete mixer, reducing enough time it requires to incorporate the foam into the mixer. Continue to, this trial resulted in failure.
Regional adaptation isn’t optional—it’s existential. In Canada’s Yukon Territory, wherever temperatures plunge to -40°C, contractors mandate aircrete foaming agents blended with ethylene glycol-based antifreeze additives. These formulations prevent micro-cracking through freeze-thaw cycles, a problem that Formerly caused 17% of discrete constructions to fall short in just two several years.
From the twenty-fourth demo, the Domegaia approach from Demo 23 was repeated, however the material was combined within a five gallon bucket, yet again using a drill mixer. The objective of this variation was to produce fewer cylinders having a scaled-down bucket, reducing the load inconsistency. Yet again, the cylinders collapsed.
The Aircrete mixes ordinarily involved distinct foam-to-cement ratios, though the Regulate used a traditional concrete combination. These recipes have been created to test how different the foam information polycarboxylic acid superplasticizer influenced the compressive strength on the materials.
From the fifty-next trial, no Aircrete mixing strategy was used. Alternatively, standard cement was manufactured being a Regulate group for compression testing. A single bag of Portland Cement, which was 94 lbs ., manufactured just below 5 cylinders. This cement mix was scaled up to produce eighteen cylinders in whole.
Saponin-based agents are derived from plant resources like soapwort or quinoa. These agents produce foam by reducing floor tension.
Based on SEM observations, the LW2 samples experienced a denser matrix in comparison to the LW1 samples. This transpired simply because warmth curing enhanced the rate of geopolymerization and hence, greater the strength.