Expanded Clay Aggregate

Overview of expanded clay aggregate

Expanded clay aggregate (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA)) is a special aggregate material. It is made by expanding clay during heating, and the gas produced forms thousands of small bubbles in the clay, thus forming a honeycomb structure. It is mainly used to make lightweight concrete and other building materials.

Light expanded clay aggregate is treated by a specific process to make it have many excellent properties such as light weight, heat insulation, sound insulation, and impermeability.

Features and performance

• Light weight: The density of expanded shale lightweight aggregate ranges from 250 kg/m³ to 510 kg/m³, and there are even larger LECA boulders with a density of 500 kg/m³.
• Thermal insulation performance: The thermal conductivity is low, as low as 0.097 W/mK, which helps to keep warm.
• Sound insulation effect: It has good sound insulation performance.
• Waterproof: It does not decompose under harsh conditions, is fire-resistant, has a pH value close to 7, and is resistant to freezing and thawing.
• Seismic performance: Excellent performance in earthquakes, able to reduce construction dead loads and seismic lateral loads.

Multiple sizes and densities of lightweight expanded shale aggregate

Usually produced in different sizes and densities, ranging from 0.1 mm (0.004 inches) to 25 mm (1.0 inches), common specifications are 0-4 mm, 4-10 mm, 10-25 mm, etc., with densities of 250, 280, 330 and 510 kg/m3, and LECA boulders with sizes of 100-500mm and a density of 500kg/m.

Performance indicators of lightweight clay aggregate

Preparation and use of expanded slate lightweight aggregate

The preparation of lightweight clay aggregate usually involves heating the clay to high temperatures to expand it and form a porous structure. This porous structure gives it lightweight and heat-insulating properties. During use, attention should be paid to its storage and transportation methods to keep the particles mixed evenly and avoid segregation. In addition, during construction, special attention should be paid to the mixing and pouring methods to ensure the quality of the concrete3.

Application fields of lightweight clay aggregate

• Concrete blocks and precast parts: used to produce lightweight concrete blocks, concrete slabs, precast or cast structural elements (such as panels, partitions, bricks and lightweight tiles).
• Geotextile fill: used for foundation backfill, it can significantly reduce earth pressure, reduce settlement and land deformation, and increase foundation stability.
• Water management and filtration: LECA can discharge surface water and groundwater, control groundwater pressure, and be used in filtration and purification processes, including the treatment of industrial wastewater and agricultural filtration.

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate suppliers--Henan Lite Refractory Co., Ltd.

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