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PUMICE

APPLICATIONS

CONSTRUCTION

AGRICULTURE

ABRASIVE

STONEWASHING

CONSTRUCTION

Applications

• Production of lightweight structural elements (pumice concrete blocks) 
• Production of lightweight concrete
• Insulations and floor fillings
• As a lightweight filling material (substrate in loose soil) 
• Road construction, port projects, airport projects, playing fields

 

There's nothing new about pumice concrete. The Romans were using it over two millenniaago. With the continuing increase in energy costs, the use of a natural aggregate marks a return to the economic principles associated with the use of lightweight concrete, pumice was used in ancient Rome over 2,000 years ago in the construction of the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and the immense vaults of the public baths and many other notable structures still standing today.(the Pantheon of Rome). Modern scientists, some 2000 years after its construction, have determined that the secret to Pantheon's longevity is pumice (known as pozzolana to the Romans). Today's pumice concrete is composed of portland cement, pumice rock, pumice sand, and water. It is proportioned, mixed, and placed in a similar manner as conventional sand-and-gravel concrete, is used in the same applications, and is placed, screed, troweled and finished with the same equipment. 

How does the pumice block differ from the standard concrete block? The pumice block is similar, except that the sand and gravel is replaced with lightweight pumice aggregate. This blend of aggregate is sometimes referred to as a semi-lightweight block when the total aggregate consists of pumice and cement, then it is referred to as lightweight block and is one half the weight of standard block. Pumice concrete blocks are lighter to lift and place and mean less deadweight loads...and still meet compressive strength requirements. This block is popular for commercial, professional, and residential buildings and for decorative uses such as fireplaces, planters and walls.  

Pumice Lightweight Aggregate has a long track record of quality and performance. Pumice structural lightweight concrete has been used extensively in high-rise buildings, commercial buildings, hospitals, schools, government housing and major shopping centers. Pumice aggregate is also used in precast, pre-stressed concrete, masonry and geo-technical applications. The quality of Lightweight Aggregate results from a carefully controlled screening operation. The result is a high-quality, lightweight aggregate that is inert, durable, tough, stable, highly insulative, ready to meet stringent specifications for most structural and non-structural lightweight concrete projects

BENEFITS OF PUMICE AGGREGATE AND PUMICE CONCRETE

• As it is a low-density raw material [600-800 kg/cubic metre dry], saving transport costs and making product easier to lay by block layers. The most significant of the advantages of pumice concrete is its lightweight quality—up to one-third lighter than conventional sand-and-gravel concrete. This trait contributes to a decrease in structural steel costs and, consequently, job costs. Larger volumes of concrete can be handled by lighter equipment with less wear and tear on the equipment. 
• The reduction of dead load on structural supports, trusses, girders and slabs can allow extra stories on buildings where dead load is a governing factor. 
• Lightweight pumice concrete also reduces the live load on formwork and falsework. 
• Workability, particularly in nailing, sawing, and drilling. As for appearance, pumice concrete has a uniform color and texture. 
• The lower thermal conductivity of pumice concrete provides less heat loss.Pumice concrete has 4X the R-value of regular aggregate concrete. This both slows heat transfer and eliminates or reduces moisture condensation on walls and ceilings. 
• Pumice concrete delivers a higher fire rating that standard concrete and will not spall under contact with direct flame. 
• Acoustical ratings are higher for pumice concrete as well. 
• Pumice concrete has superior resistance to harsh weather conditions like freezing and thawing. This, plus its high R-value, makes pumice concrete suitable for colder climates and dramatic changes in weather. 
• Pumice concrete is more elastic, for reduced brittleness under earthquake conditions. 
• The superior water absorption/desorption characteristics of the pumice means that the moisture held in the interior of the pumice aggregate is not immediately available for chemical interaction with cement, but is extremely beneficial in maintaining longer periods of curing, giving better strength and reduced permeability in the final concrete. 
• Chemically inert [pH approx 7.0, alkali-aggregate reaction classification is non-reactive] 
• Pure and non-toxic, so exposure to pumice has no health implications, no special storage and handling is required. 
• Pumice is environmentally friendly, with low energy extraction/preparation, lower transport costs than higher density aggregates, no degradation into soluble or volatile components with time.