Application of colored silicate bricks

Colored silicate bricks - varieties and production methods

Silicate bricks for a long time known as "white brick", but in reality it can be in a variety of colors - yellow, blue, red, orange, brown and others. Due to this, colored silicate brick is widely used for decoration of houses and construction. The photo shows how beautiful and original the buildings of bricks in different colors look.

You should consider its properties in more detail.

Manufacturing process

Regardless of the color, silicate bricks are produced using the same technology.

To do this, you need to mix quartz sand and lime, 9 measures to 1 measure. If you want to get colored bricks, for example, blue or red, then you need to add a coloring pigment. Without such a component, the products will have a grayish-white color, and it is important to press the mixture, to give the required dimensions and shape, and then it is treated with hot steam at a temperature of up to +200 degrees and exposed to high pressure (8-12 atm). This method of creation is called autoclave type synthesis. The strength and other technical parameters of the products depend on how accurately and correctly the creation technology was followed.

Improving the quality of bricks makes it possible to use special additives modifiers. So, through them, you can increase the level of frost resistance or strength.

Details

Types of sand-lime bricks

There are many types of sand-lime bricks, and they are divided by color (black , red and green), shape, structure, dimensions and scope. According to the structure, two main groups of bricks can be distinguished - hollow and solid. In the second case, the product will not have internal voids, but in the first they are.

According to the scope of use, silicate products can be divided into ordinary ones, that is, those from which masonry is made, and front ones. The latter is used to decorate buildings and houses. We select by size:

• Single (size 25 * 12 * 6.5 cm).
• One and a half (size 25 * 12 * 8.

  8 cm).

• Double (25 * 12 * 13.8 cm), and bricks in this size are often called silicate type stones.

As you can see, the width and length do not change, only the thickness of the products becomes larger. Bricks are usually parallelepiped-shaped.

In the field of construction, products of a smooth type and with a chipped texture are used. The latter are used in the work of facing, and embossed bricks wish the architectural appearance of houses more diverse, and also creates the feeling that the masonry is made of stone of natural origin.

At the moment, materials are being made in different colors, not just white, but also yellow, black, red, blue, green and others. The use of already dyed products expands the possibilities in decoration and construction. After installing the facing color of the bricks, no additional work is required to improve the facade.

From materials with different colors, you can lay out a certain pattern or patterns. The photo shows different options for decorating a house in red and yellow colors. External and internal walls, due to the use of silicate colored bricks, become decorative without additional finishing.

Parameters

The qualities and properties of bricks determine its technical parameters - stability frost resistance, strength, thermal conductivity, density, etc. The service life of the material will depend on them and under what conditions and for what it can be used.

Strength will show what kind of load the product can withstand. Everything is measured in kg / cm ² . This is indicated by the letter M, followed by a number that indicates the permissible load. At the moment, they make silicate bricks with different levels of strength from M75 to M300.

Materials of the M100 brand are in the greatest demand.

It can be considered as basic, because from bricks of this level of strength, buildings with a height of up to five floors can be built. It is it that is usually used in individual housing construction when building private buildings and cottages, when building all kinds of social institutions and other things. Buildings with a large number of floors require the use of materials with a high degree of strength.

If you decide to buy colored sand-lime bricks, then keep in mind that the level of frost resistance is the next parameter. It is marked with the letter F and shows how many cycles of freezing and defrosting the product can withstand.

The higher this indicator, the more durable the material will be. The density can be from 1300 to 2100 kg / cubic meter. The levels of thermal conductivity and sound insulation will directly depend on this parameter. Thermal conductivity indicates how quickly heat will be transferred to colder areas. The higher this indicator, the sooner the brick will begin to freeze in the winter.

Thermal conductivity of silicate products can be from 0.35 to 0.7 W / m * C. The level of water absorption of silicate bricks cannot exceed 12%.

The level of heat resistance of silicate-type bricks is far from the highest.

They cannot be used where they begin to warm up to +550 degrees. At high temperatures, they begin to crack and crumble. For this reason, it is not recommended to use such material for laying pipes and stoves. Weight is the final parameter, and it can be quite different depending on the type of product. So, a hollow ordinary brick will weigh approximately 3.

5 kg, but a solid brick will weigh up to 5 kg.

Cons and pros

Silicate bricks, like all other building materials, have many minuses and pluses. Of the positive properties, we can note:

1. A high level of noise insulation, and in a house built of such material, the sounds of the street are almost inaudible.
2. There are products with a low level of thermal conductivity, this can contribute to maintaining an excellent microclimate in the room.
3. High level of durability.

4. Large assortment of color solutions (from yellow / red to blue and black).
5. Availability of products with different textures, which opens up scope for interior solutions.
6. Heat resistance, which can withstand up to +500 degrees without harm to its properties.
7. Can be used for masonry of internal type partitions, external and load-bearing walls, for home decoration.
8. Possibility to use colored materials for decorative finishing.

9. Eco-friendly, made only from components of natural origin, during operation does not emit harmful substances into the air, and therefore can be used for building buildings of any purpose, including for schools, kindergartens and hospitals ...

10. Colored materials can be used to decorate facades.
11. Non-flammable, it is a fire-resistant type material, fully fireproof and does not burn.

12. One of the most affordable building materials both in terms of cost and popularity, it is not difficult to find silicate bricks in all cities.

But keep in mind that this material has many significant drawbacks, which limits the scope. Among the shortcomings, we single out:

• Huge weight, and even more so for solid blocks, silicate bricks are considered one of the most heavy building materials.
• Buildings with a high number of storeys require additional base reinforcement due to the high weight of the building.
• Most of the silicate type products have a high level of thermal conductivity, which leads to the fact that in winter the walls quickly freeze through, and often buildings need additional insulation.

• Absorbs moisture from the air.
• Low chemical resistance.
• May be deformed.
• Cannot tolerate heating more than +600 degrees.
• Terrible adhesion to cement mortars.

Such disadvantages of colored silicate bricks impose tangible restrictions on the scope of the building material. For example, because of the high level of moisture absorption, silicate bricks cannot be used when arranging the base.

Still it cannot be used for the arrangement of pipes, stoves and chimneys. Silicate stones are not used for the construction of a bathhouse, as well as premises for hot shops. On the other hand, due to the ability to maintain the microclimate in the room, environmental friendliness and decorativeness, it is one of the best alternatives for housing construction.

The most important thing is that you choose your materials correctly.