ETHOD FOR MANAGING THE STRUCTURAL-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FOAM CONCRETE MIXTURES

Abstract

Objectives At present, the urgency of scientific research aimed at reducing the material consumption of building structures is growing. Since foam concrete proved to be an effective material for wall structures, the aim of the present work was to develop scientific ideas about features of their macrostructural formation at the “viscous to solid” phase transition.Methods The evaluation of plastic strength was carried out according to the patent for invention No. 2316750 (“Method for determining the plastic strength of foam concrete mix” registered in the State Register of Inventions of the Russian Federation on February 10, 2008). Synthetic PO-3NP (TU 38-00-058079999-20-93) and "Arecom-4" galipot glue analogue (TU 31-10) were used as foam generation agents. Control over the kinetics of the plastic strength of the test mixtures of equal density was carried out in five-litre vessels at an interval of 15 minutes for three hours.Results The paper considers the most important features of mass transfer, which control the formation of defectiveness for interporal partitions in foam concrete. From the analysis of theoretical and experimental data, it follows that the ratio between water and surfactant consumption is an important tool for managing the quality of foam concrete mixes. Definingthe optimal relationship between water consumption and the amount of foaming agent allows the maximum amount of surfactants to be located at the gas-liquid interface ensuring minimal defect in the structure of the interporal partitions in the cured concrete.Conclusion The theoretical and experimental studies carried out make it possible to consider the relationship between the consumption of water and surfactant as an important tool for controlling the structural and mechanical properties in foam concrete mixes.

Keywords

• foam concrete mixture
• plastic strength
• coalescence