LIGHT WEIGHT RECEIPE FOR CONCRETE

Here are a few links you may wish to explore.

try this:

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/QandA/lwconcrete/formulas.htm

or you could just google "lightweight cement recipe"

I did that, but really need an actual recipe. Thanks.

Hi DOBT,

Can you say more about your application?

I have mixed and made a light-weight concrete for flooring fill on an uneven wood and joist floor (later to be covered by underlayment). When I followed the links offered by the other posts, the second link offered used the same that I did.

Usually (and I'm no chemist) the key is to replace some or all of the aggregate with a lighter weight material, such as vermiculite or foam beads, but the sacrifice of course is compression strength.

Tell us more about what you're up to and maybe we can help, either with personal experiences or links to other sites.

Kind regards ...

I would like to use this light weight to pour into molds. But the conventional concrete is way to heavy. We have experimented with own mixtures and like you we are not chemists... and it is very hard to get information from anyone in the "lightweight" industry. So we are banging our hands literally against the wall!!! What we make is either to heavy or too watery. We have used Borax, sand, cement , plastisizer and some other aggragetes, but to no avail. We have tried to find the foam beads but the website I had is no longer viable. So any suggestions are very helpful to us. Thanks to all who have responded.

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Hi DBOT,

If you are looking for the foam beads, look for a company who makes EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) packaging materials. EPS begins with Polystyrene foam beads. Also, if you remember the old 'bean-bag chairs', that's what they were filled with.

SO, just for experimentation, you might check (1) for an EPS manufacturer, and I'm sure they would chat with you and sell you a bag of the PS foam beads, and (2) if you can find a furniture store (don't laugh, I've done this) that sell the 'bean-bag' furniture, they should also have bags of 'replacement' beads to sell.

Good luck with your experiments and let us know how it goes.

Kind regards ...

Thanks, will let you know if we actually get a formula that works. Have a great weekend.

Google "hypertufa".

Check out Elastizell. They can formulate mix designs that result in densities of 20 pcf to 120 pcf.

A material called Haydite has been used for some time to create stronger and lighter blocks. I don't know if your application will merit using this product. Give them a call to find out.

Check out and contact them http://www.stalite.com/

This is what they do

Glad someone got this info out!