Vermiculite Concrete

a variety of lightweight concrete with as welled-vermiculite aggregate. Cement, bitumen, soluble glass, synthetic resins, and other materials serve as binding agents. Thermal-insulating vermiculite concrete, with a density of 250-400 kg/m³ and a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 0.08-0.10 watts per m·°K [1W/(m · °K) ≈ 0.86 kcal/(m · hr · ° C)] is utilized in manufacturing slabs, shells, sections, and blocks; for the thermal insulation of industrial equipment and pipelines; and also to heat surrounding structural components. The highest temperatures for thermal-insulating vermiculite concrete are 600° C with a cement binder and 150° C with a synthetic binding agent. Structural thermal-insulating vermiculite concrete is used in manufacturing wall panels, roofing slabs, and other components; it has a density of 600-900 kg/m³, a coefficient of thermal conductivity of up to 0.19 W/(m·°K), and a compressive strength of up to 3.5 meganewtons per sq m (35 kilograms-force per sq cm). Such vermiculite concrete, with either a cement or soluble-glass binder with additives, is also fire-resistant and may be used at temperatures up to 800° C.