Making Heavy Concrete

Try this:

Density of Concrete

Really, a simple web search is always the place to start. Unless you are just lonely.

Stir in depleted Uranium to a # 6 load, I imagine, for "heavy as possible".

How practical that might be is up to the real need.

P.S. I believe #6 is the nomenclature of a heavy mix, but it would be wise if you didn't take my word for that bit of rejoinder. Don't know the size or use of this "weight", so I can't really make any perfect suggestions.

I'd think that concrete in the form of mortar would be the heaviest, since the bulk density of sand/cement should be higher than more coarse conglomerates. And as little water as possible. I've seen them agitate large pours to remove air, this might help.

But I am not a mason.

Old wheel balance weights instead of gravel may be easier to obtain.

The counterweights on the back of those construction machines are concrete mixed with Iron oxide from shotblasters (I know I sold them my blaster dust). Iron is 3 times the density of concrete per cubic foot. the fill factor for iron oxide compared to solid iron isn't as attractive, but the ability to mix it is...

If you are reinforcing the weight to keep it together, a small amount of well mixed in smaller steel or iron coupons would also increase density. But you don't want theme to form a continuous layer or it will be a possible fracture / separation path.

You will need to do some good design on the reinforcement if you dont want this to come apart someday, wrecking the whole works by its failure to act as a counterweight when it falls apart, aswell as the damage from falling apart.

Iron oxide mix is the way to go.

milo

Milo. Thank,s for your advise regarding heavy concrete. If I abandon the idea of concrete and use recycled shotblaster dust in its dry form but contained for example in a steel drum then what would be weight per cu/ft or cu/m of this material. The potential to fill and empty the container/s would be of benefit at times when my machine might be needed to be dismantled for maintainance purposes.

Sempronious.

I never worked that out, but I'll bet its 90-95% of Steel density. I'm not sure that you would want to attempt pouring it as it sets up with humidity...

One of the places we sold it was to the company making weighted desk tape dispensers for offices back in the day when that sort of thing wasn't "imported."

Makes for nice heft.

milo

Take Milo's word for it. I get a bit grandiose.

I need to make a concrete weight as heavy as possible.

What is the best mix for this?

The best way is to use the standard mix, but more of it!

Consider adding Rebar steel to the concrete mix for increased weight and strength (before pouring the concrete and it sets, I cannot stress this enough).

I am almost afraid to ask what the application is (counterweight, ship ballast, load ancher, decoritive door stop?)

make sure the rebar is epoxy coated, or zinc galvanized even where you cut it, zince it in time you might get water penetration and rust on bare rebar. Rust expands and breaks the weight, as it does on bridges

Does it have to be concrete? You should be able to get lead for about a dollar a kilogram. It's easy to melt and manipulate.

Looters don't steal concrete.

milo

For ballast in a boat use scrap iron punchings is usually best

Use a Heavy (high density) coarse aggregate. Follow a mix design for the strength you want. Then substitute the coarse aggregate (rocks) for something heaver than rock.

Hospitals use a very heavy (high density) mix around their x ray rooms, perhaps you can search around and find what that mix design is.

What are you planning to do with it (generally speaking)? If we know what you are doing there might be a design that we could look up or a chemical that could be added.

If you change the density of the aggregate, air entrainment, etc. these all affect the density of the mix, possibly making it "heavier".

Is there any reason why you could not use powdered BaSO4 or PbSO4 added to the cement before adding the water?

We have available very heavy, finger sized, clean steel scrap punchings. If interested, give us a call: (216) 921 - 8866.

Umm, wonder what concrete balls dropped on the BP oil disaster would be cheapest and heaviest? Lots would be needed.