Specific Weight of Gas Silicate: Parameters and Types

In building construction, larger and lighter gas silicate blocks and foam blocks began to replace brick. Gas silicate contains many components:

• High-quality Portland cement, which contains about 50% calcium silicates.
• Quartz sand with a low content of clay and silt impurities (less than 2%).
• Slaked lime as a calcium source for the formation of calcium silicates.
• Aluminum powder as a gas-forming agent.
• Auxiliary additives and surfactants, if required by the manufacturer’s technology.
• Water.

To produce autoclaved gas-silicate blocks, the material hardens in an autoclave under elevated temperature and pressure. This promotes the formation of calcium hydrosilicates and improves geometry and strength stability, but the exact improvement depends on composition, equipment and curing mode.

Types of gas silicate and their characteristics

Gas silicate as a construction material has its own advantages during use:

• Low weight.
• Strength.
• High heat-retention performance.
• Sound insulation.
• Resistance to ignition.
• Cost-effectiveness.

Block weight is calculated as volume × design density. For example, a D500 block measuring 600×400×250 mm has a volume of 0.06 m³. If a design density of 580 kg/m³ is used to account for moisture and production reserve, the mass is 580 × 0.06 = 34.8 kg. For a dry block of nominal D500 density, the value may be lower, so critical calculations should use manufacturer data.

Manufacturers are constantly improving the quality characteristics of gas silicate blocks, so some companies have managed to achieve high frost resistance for dense types of blocks. Most often, however, gas silicates can withstand 35 thawing cycles. In addition, all types of blocks retain heat well. When working with gas silicates, it is important to consider the moisture level.

Despite all the advantages, construction blocks of this type have their disadvantages:

• Use requires a specialized adhesive base and skills in working with it.
• Finishing work is mandatory because of decorative shortcomings.
• High vapor permeability.
• A strong foundation is required.

The main classification criterion for gas silicate material is density. The types of blocks and their quality characteristics are shown in the table.

Gas silicate parameters and their weight

Each developer independently selects the required size of construction material. Manufacturers offer fixed sizes of construction material. The weight of gas silicate depends on the size and density of the raw mixture used in production. In the table above, we provided the dimensions and specific weight of gas silicate.