Arbolit is a unique type of lightweight concrete that is used in low-rise construction. It consists of wood chips processed by food additive E520 to eliminate substances that prevent the adhesion of cement to wood chips. Cement must be brand not lower than M400 ("Russian »Only uses the M500 brand).
Since wood chips reinforce the block, it should not be large (no more than 45 mm), otherwise the arbolite block will lose its strength and begin to fall apart. And a very small chip should also not be for the same reason.
Unjustly forgotten, one of the best materials
Advantages and disadvantages of wood concrete
Of the advantages, it can be noted:
- Due to its dense structure, arbolite has high frost resistance, and without changing its characteristics it easily withstands 35-50 freeze-thaw cycles;
- it does not burn and is not capable of supporting combustion, therefore this material is fireproof;
- has low thermal conductivity;
- due to its relatively low weight, it is easy to process and masonry;
- holds fasteners perfectly without additional special devices - see our test video:
- eco-friendly, because it consists of natural components, and does not emit any harmful substances into the atmosphere;
- very resistant to shock and bending. Upon impact, the arbolite block cushions due to spill and does not fall apart.
The Russian Arbolit team tested the strength of the arbolite block. For the purity of the experiment, 3 more materials were purchased: sand concrete, sand concrete with the addition of gravel and foam concrete.
Having low thermal conductivity, arbolit allows you to do without insulation. This is due to the fact that the arbolite block consists of 90% coniferous chips, and the wood has the ability to retain heat, accordingly, more heat will be saved.
The disadvantage of this material is only high water permeability. On the other hand, there is a very common explanation for this. Permeability tests are carried out, as a rule, by immersing the finished blocks in a container with water and measuring the weight of the block before and after immersion. The arbolite block, of course, will lose here - the arbolite, indeed, will absorb more moisture compared to other materials because of its porous structure. But in real operating conditions, this problem is eliminated by applying plaster, or water repellent, to the surface of the arbolite, which will repel moisture. And during the construction on marshy soils, reinforced waterproofing of the foundation is needed.
History of arbolite
The first samples of this material were obtained in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century - in North America, the material was called woodstone (woodstone). High fuel prices and a decline in the income of Americans served as an impetus for the development of new materials with high thermal insulation, sufficient strength and low combustibility.
In the 60s, Woodstone came to the USSR. Under the leadership of Academician Isaak Hiskovich Nanazashvili, the first factories were built for the production of wall panels from chip concrete (the name arbolite was received in the USSR in the first years of its existence). However, after a few years, this material became better known under the name CDK (cement-wood composition). The maximum cement strength grade that was available to Soviet builders at that time was M400, and the main mineralizer was technical aluminum sulfate, which was used to remove sugars from wood chips (recall that the removal of wood sugars is still a priority in the production of wood concrete - t. K. wood sugars interfere with the binding of the finished mixture).
The quality of wood chips was the main problem at that time in the production of wood concrete. The best results were obtained on dry wood chips, therefore, during the construction of wood concrete plants, special canopies for drying were designed. The wood chips dried in the open had minimal sugar and acceptable humidity. Thus, after drying, it absorbed all the main components of the mineralizers, resulting in a durable, durable, warm and environmentally friendly material.
Scope of arbolit
Currently, wood concrete is used in the construction of farm buildings, cultural and domestic buildings and low-rise buildings. Due to its high strength characteristics, this material is used in seismically active places, and due to high frost resistance - in cold ones.
In low-rise construction, wood concrete is used not only for the construction of load-bearing walls, but also as partitions of existing structures. Due to the low thermal conductivity, this material can be used as insulation of walls and floors.
In the construction of industrial, warehouse and agricultural premises, for example: garages, gazebos, sheds, baths and utility rooms, wood concrete plays an important role, since the walls of it have low thermal conductivity, high biostability and are not exposed to aggressive environments.
Block-built bathhouse made of wood concrete
Arbolite is also used in monolithic construction, but from our point of view, this is far from the best solution. Why? Any lightweight concrete, unlike wood concrete, will fill all corners of the formwork. The arbolite mixture does not flow, it is semi-dry, therefore without pressing it cannot fill the corners of the formwork properly, and without pressure it will not gain the required strength.
The unique properties of arbolite allowed its use even in Antarctica. In the early 60s, three office rooms and a dining room were built at the Molodezhnaya research station, where the wall thickness was only 30 cm!
Which company should you trust when buying a quality wood concrete?
Russian Arbolit is a promising, young company manufacturing .
Why exactly is Russian Arbolite?
This company provides:
- free visit of a technologist in absolutely any direction and to any settlement of the Russian Federation;
- optimal balance of price and quality;
- strict quality standards and product certification, and this is a guarantee of the quality of the produced wood concrete.
When choosing Russian Arbolit, you will provide yourself with a durable, warm and comfortable home that will last for decades.