Silicate Brick with Reduced Density and Thermal Conductivity

Modern housing practice involves the widespread use of silicate brick. The main disadvantage of this building material is its high average density, accompanied by high thermal conductivity, which is accompanied by large heat losses through the enclosing walls of buildings and structures. This article discusses the possibility of improving the thermal characteristics of silicate materials through the use of ash microspheres in the production of piece silicate products, which will significantly reduce the thermal conductivity of the manufactured material. Ash microspheres, being a component of ash and slag waste from the thermal power plants, have a number of valuable properties: firstly, very low density, secondly, closed micro porosity, thirdly, chemical and mineralogical composition prone to reactions under conditions of elevated temperatures and pressures. We have studied the chemical and mineralogical composition as well as physical and mechanical properties of ash microspheres, developed the compositions and technological parameters for the silicate materials production. It has been established that the replacement of quartz sand with ash microspheres as part of the molding mass makes it possible to obtain a silicate brick of medium density class 1.0 and strength sufficient to erect load-bearing enclosing products and structures. Compositions of molding materials using a silicate binder and aluminosilicate ash microspheres using the generally accepted methods were developed and the properties of the obtained silicate material and were studied in accordance with the current GOST requirements for the similar materials.