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Aerated Concrete: A Revolutionary Construction Material

Conference Paper · April 2018

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 International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research
IJETSR
www.ijetsr.com
ISSN 2394 – 3386
Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2018

Aerated Concrete: A Revolutionary Construction Material

Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy

Government College of Engineering Kalahandi Bhawanipatna, Odisha, India
Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak
Government College of Engineering Kalahandi Bhawanipatna, Odisha, India
Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda
Government College of Engineering Kalahandi Bhawanipatna, Odisha, India

ABSTRACT
Aerated Concrete (AC) has many benefits for structures such as heat insulation, sound insulation, fire and mould
resistance, reduced dead weight and many more. AC products include blocks, wall panels, floor, roof panels, and lintels.
Besides insulating capability, one of AC's important advantages in construction is its quick and easy installation since
the material can be routed, sanded and cut to size on site using standard carbon steel band saws, hand saws and drills.
This paper deals with the development of light weight concrete that is further known as Aerated Concrete (AC) which
also shows the difference between the conventional concrete blocks and aerated concrete blocks. Aerated Concrete is
relatively homogeneous as compared to normal concrete; as it does not contain course aggregate phase that shows vast
variation in its properties. The properties of aerated concrete depend on its micro structure and composition of void
formation and curing. AC is relatively new concrete masonry material i.e. light weight, easy to construct, and
economical to transport.. This paper deals the history, physical properties, manufacturing process and test programme
of aerated concrete & concludes that the strength and density of block are change according to change in proportion of
aluminium powder in mixing of ingredients for development of AC blocks after all the change in composition of
ingredients we can say that the AC block have advantages as a structural building material. Aerated concrete blocks of
strength between 4.84-5.98 (N/mm²) can be prepared using aluminium powder. The change in alumina powder content
gave a magical change to the strength and density.
Keywords
AC, concrete, cellular concrete, light weight, compressive strength, density

INTRODUCTION
Aerated Concrete is an important construction material for architects, engineers and builders. Also it is an
appropriate material with high energy efficiency, fire safety, and cost effectiveness. AC is a versatile light
weight concrete and they are generally used as blocks. AC is produced by adding in a predetermined amount
of aluminium powder and other additives into slurry of ground high silica sand, cement, lime powder, water.
Aerated concrete (AC) is a popular building material which is used all over the world. It has a history of 50
successful years can be used in all environments for all types of buildings (Wittmann, 1983, 1992). Since then,
the production and use of aerated concrete have spread to more than 40 countries of all continents, including
North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Australia. This wide
experience has produced many case studies of the use in different climates and under different building codes.
In the United States, modern uses of AAC began in 1990 for residential and commercial projects in the
Southeastern states. U.S. production of plain and reinforced AAC started in 1995 in the Southeast and has
since spread to other parts of the country. AAC's low density also accounts for its low structural compression
strength. It can carry loads of up to 8 MPa (1160psi), approximately 50% of the compressive strength of the
regular concrete. Johan Alexanderson (1979) studied the relations between structure and mechanical

988 Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy, Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak, Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda
 International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research
IJETSR
www.ijetsr.com
ISSN 2394 – 3386
Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2018

properties of autoclave aerated concrete and he found that the strength of aerated concrete specially cement
and lime mixing, increased with increasing amount of hydrates and with decreasing porosity. AAC is
approved for use in Seismic Design Categories A, B and C by the 2007 Supplement to the International
Building Code, and in other geographic locations with the approval of the local building official.

MATERIALS USED
Cement (OPC): As per IS:12269 (53 grade), Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) of 53 grade were taken in this
project as it provides high strength and durability to structures because of its optimum particle size
distribution, superior crystalline structure and balanced phase composition. In the construction industry, most
of the cement used in the present day context is either C53 or C43 grades.

Fig. 1: Cement
Sand: The quality of sand used in concrete affects more or less for both fresh and hardened properties of the
concrete. In the present investigation, a good quality and well-graded natural river sand was used. The sand
was sieved properly through 4.75 mm sieve to take out the pebbles or organic matter (if any). Confirming to
IS 383-1970, natural sand was taken in the present project work, where silica content should not be less than
80%.

Fig. 2: Sand
Lime: As per IS 712-1973, Lime is a calcium-containing inorganic mineral in which carbonates, oxides, and
hydroxides predominate. In the strict sense of the term, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also
the name of the natural mineral (native lime) CaO which occurs as a product of coal seam fires and in altered
limestone xenoliths in volcanic ejection. It should be class ‘C’ lime.

Fig. 3: Lime Powder

Aluminium Powder: As per IS 438-1972, Aluminum powder is usually used to obtain aerated concrete by a
chemical reaction generating a gas in fresh mortar, so that when it sets it contains a large number of gas
bubbles. Aluminum is used as a foaming agent in AC production worldwide and it is widely proven as the
best solution for its purpose. Aluminum powder in the AAC industry is often made from foil scrap and exists
of microscopic flake-shaped aluminum particles. Aluminum powder with grain size less than 100μm and

989 Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy, Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak, Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda
 International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research
IJETSR
www.ijetsr.com
ISSN 2394 – 3386
Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2018

particularly with fractions less than 50μm, can easily form highly flammable aero suspensions (dust clouds)
during pouring or vibration.

Fig. 4 Aluminium Powder

APPLICATION OF AERATED CONCRETE:

1. Aerated concrete blocks can be useful in various building types such as commercial, residential and
educational.
2. These blocks are applicable in warehouses and buildings with industrial aim, bearing in mind their high
insulation capacities, less construction time, cost effectiveness and also their light weight which reduces
dead load of building, considerably makes AC an adequate material to use.
3. Aerated concrete is used in the construction of dwellings and businesses. AC can be used to quickly create
kitchen surfaces. AC has the advantage that it can be shaped with saws, files and rasps.
4. AC is used preferentially in external walls because of its outstanding insulation properties.
5. AC is used in multi-storey buildings and it is quite viable for even 5-storey constructions.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Materials were taken as per IS 2185 part 3 such as cement as per (IS-269:1996), sand as per (IS-383:1970),
aluminium powder as per (IS-438:1972), lime powder as per (IS-712:1973), and water should free from acid
and alkalinity. Standard size of mould was taken (150×150×150) mm. Volume of raw material according to
their proportion were calculated. Then the densities of raw material were found out according to their specific
gravity. Standard size of mould as per IS: 10086 (1982), were taken, cleaned and oiled properly. First the
weight of the raw materials is calculated as per the proportion as per IS 2185 (Part-3), and batching of raw
materials were done using weighing balance of required quantities. First sand and cement and lime were taken
in to the tray and mixed thoroughly for 3 to 4 minutes. Then alumina powder was added in that mixer and was
thoroughly mixed.

Fig. 5(a) Dry Mixing (b) Wet Mixing

After that water was added in that mixture and was mixed for 2 to 3 minutes. Then the slurry was pounded in
to the mould up to one-third height of the mould. The volume of mixer was increase within 10 to 15 minutes
due to the formation of hydrogen bubbles by the chemical reaction of alumina with cement and lime. The
dimension of void observed was of 2 to 3 mm in size. Then the block was demoulded after 8 to 10 hrs of
laid/casting and the extra portion was cut by the help of cutter.

990 Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy, Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak, Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda
 International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research
IJETSR
www.ijetsr.com
ISSN 2394 – 3386
Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2018

Fig. 6(a) Fresh Concrete (b) Hardened AC block

Table 1. Mix Details for 1 Metre Cube
Mix Cement(kg) Sand(kg) Lime Aluminium Water(kg)
powder(kg) powder (%)
Mix 1 384 298.67 50.371 0.10 296.30
Mix 2 384 298.67 50.371 0.13 296.30
Mix 3 384 298.67 50.371 0.18 296.30

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Effect of aluminium powder was noticed from the experiment by changing the aluminium powder content. It
affect directly to the block density and compressive strength of AC blocks. It was also found that, change in
aluminium powder content directly affect the bubble diameter which form the void in AC block. The different
test results are listed below with its aluminium content percentage.
Table 2. Compressive Strength and Density (Mix-1)
Samples Compressive Avg. Density Avg. Aluminium
Strength Comp. (kg/m³) Density Powder
Strength (kg/m³) Content
(N/ mm²) (%)
(N/mm²)
Sample 1 5.10 625 0.10
Sample 2 5.30 689 0.10
5.20 662
Sample 3 5.15 660 0.10
Sample 4 5.25 675 0.10

Table 3. Compressive Strength and Density (Mix-2)

Samples Compressive Avg. Density Avg. Aluminium
Strength Comp. (kg/m³) Density Powder
Strength (kg/m³) Content
(N/ mm²) (%)
(N/mm²)
Sample 1 5.64 614 0.13
Sample 2 5.84 744 0.13
5.74 679
Sample 3 5.50 643 0.13
Sample 4 5.98 715 0.13

991 Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy, Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak, Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda
 International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research
IJETSR
www.ijetsr.com
ISSN 2394 – 3386
Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2018

Table 4. Compressive Strength and Density (Mix-3)

Samples Compressive Avg. Density Avg. Aluminium
Strength Comp. (kg/m³) Density Powder
Strength (kg/m³) Content
(N/ mm²) (%)
(N/mm²)

Sample 1 5.00 600 0.18

Sample 2 4.94 654 0.18
4.97 627
Sample 3 5.10 619 0.18
Sample 4 4.84 635 0.18

Fig. 7 Density to Comp. Strength Varriance

The low density was achieved by the formation of air voids to produce a cellular structure called aerated
concrete and give the materials its characteristics appearance. With Portland cement, the initial development
of strength in the product depends primarily on the normal setting are reported in literatures.

CONCLUSION
From the above test it was concluded that:
Aerated concrete blocks of strength between 4.84-5.98 (N/mm²) can be prepared using aluminium powder.
The change in alumina powder content gave a magical change to the strength and density.
Replacement of clay bricks was made possible with the development of aerated concrete blocks.

992 Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy, Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak, Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda
 International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research
IJETSR
www.ijetsr.com
ISSN 2394 – 3386
Volume 5, Issue 4
April 2018

REFERENCES
[1] Wittmann, F.H. (ed.).1992. Advances in Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, Proceedings 3rd RILEM International
Symposium on Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.
[2] Wittmann, F.H. (ed.).1983.Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, Moisture and Properties, Developments in Civil
Engineering.
[3] Building Green Suite website: Green Building.com, 28 March 2012.
[4] Richard E. Klingner.2008. Using Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Correctly, Masonry Magazine.
[5] CEB Manual of design and technology. Autoclaved aerated concrete. The Construction Press, 1977.
[6] Valore RC.1954. Cellular concretes-physical properties. J Am Concr Inst.
[7] Rudnai G.1963. Light weight concretes. Budapest: Akademi Kiado.
[8] ACI Committee 523. Guide for cellular concretes above 50 pcf, and for aggregate concretes above 50 pcf with
compressive strengths less than 2500 psi. J Am Concr Inst.
[9] Legatski LA. Cellular concrete, signi®cance of tests and properties of concrete and concrete making materials. In:
Klieger PK, Lamond JF, editors. ASTM Special Technical Publication. Philadelphia.

993 Dr. Kaliprasanna Sethy, Mr. Girija Sankar Nayak, Ms. Sushri Rojalin Nanda

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