GIB concrete permits savings in structural steel

GIB being chemically inert has excellent heat and acoustic insulation characteristics and once mixed with cement, very high thermal resistance values can be achieved.

Sunil Chaurasia, Business Head, Perlcon Premix Pvt Ltd

Perlcon Premix Pvt Ltd is a manufacturer of dry mix mortar formulations that facilitate quicker and better post structural construction. The cement based, light weight, sandfree and self-curing premix mortars are customised to Indian conditions at the company’s state-of-the-art modern plant located near Ahmedabad. The formulations are developed using a fine blend of specially selected natural minerals which gives these unique properties

Glazed Isoballs
Perlcon Glazed Isoballs (GIB) is a light weight aggregate for concrete, insulation concrete. This can replace sand in specialised applications. GIB is the lightest aggregate having density from 100 kg per cubic metre to 150 kg per cubic metre. This material is white or light gray in colour and is about 1-10th the weight of sand or gravel. The specially processed GIB aggregate consists of expanded particles for use in lightweight concrete, fire retardant plaster or insulating concrete in place of sand or gravel.

For easy handling and accurate on the job mixing, it is usually marketed in HDPE bags, ready for use with cement. The many tiny glass sealed cells in each particle of expanded GIB make it highly insulating as well as comparatively non-absorptive. Thus, GIB mixes with about 30 per cent less water than comparable lightweight aggregates. In addition, GIB saves energy up to 35 per cent. It gives cool and comfortable living. Use of GIB emits low carbon.

High thermal resistance values
The material is in the form of glass like bubbles. They are closed cell particles with high mechanical strength. Very low water absorption and very high fire resistance characteristics. GIB being chemically inert has excellent heat and acoustic insulation characteristics and once mixed with cement, very high thermal resistance values can be achieved. GIB in combination with Portland cement is the lightest of all mineral aggregate concretes. “Concrete can be designed with GIB up to density of 500 kg per cubic metre, by greatly reducing the deadweight of floor, roof and wall constructions. GIB concrete permits significant savings in structural steel and other building materials,” says Sunil Chaurasia, Business Head, Perlcon Premix Pvt Ltd

Potential application areas
• Light weight concrete
• Insulation concrete
• Insulating roof decks
• Curtain wall systems
• Roof or ceiling tiles
• Hollow or cavity walls
• Light weight precast panels
• Light weight floor fills or screeds
• Insulation plasters or ready-mix plasters
• Premix mortars.

For more details, visit www.perlcon.com