Light-transmitting composite building materials and transparent concrete. What is transparent concrete? Production technology and application of transparent concrete

Space for design solutions in the construction of buildings was provided by transparent concrete, which retained the strength characteristics and long service life of the familiar material. The introduction of an aesthetic component into the production technology changed the components of the mixture, which increased the prices for the finished product. You can reduce the cost of purchasing blocks if you make them yourself.

Such an innovative development makes it possible to distinguish the silhouettes of objects and the outlines of people, which is a unique design solution for the construction of buildings and structures. It can be made by hand, which will reduce the cost of expensive materials. The building will receive additional lighting without reducing the strength of the structures.

In order to see the light sources and the silhouettes obscuring them through the solidified solution, fiber optic conductors are used as a filler. The technology retained as a binder fine-grained cement mixture, but introduced this specific component to impart light-conducting properties to the monolith.

The fiber content should not exceed 5%, otherwise the bearing capacity. The optimal Ø of one thread is no more than 2 mm. Transparent products involve their production in the factory in separate blocks, which, after the completion of the manufacturing procedure, are delivered to the installation site. Prices are set both by the piece and for 1 m2 for wholesale customers.

The main characteristics correspond to fine-grained concrete M250 (compression):

• strength (bending) - Ptb30;
• water absorption - up to 6%;
• frost resistance - F50;
• density 2100-2400 kg/m3;
• light scattering - up to 2 m.

Compared to traditional ones, such products have higher rates of thermal resistance and sound insulation. If they are used for installation in critical (loaded) structures, then when making it yourself, plasticizers are added to the mixture to increase strength. To give the desired color, a pigment is poured in, the front surface is processed to the required degree of roughness or polished. Mounting technology allows you to mount cement mortar, anchors, lay on adhesive mixtures.

Scope of transparent blocks

The use of translucent concrete in the outer walls allows you to save electricity indoors during the day and receive additional lighting from the rooms adjacent to the house at night.

In addition to facade design, they are used for original interior and exterior decor. It looks spectacular in such elements:

• internal partition;
• countertop;
• reception, bar counter;
• windowsill;
• ladder;
• fence;
• bench;
• lamp.

Such solutions can be successfully used both in public buildings and in individual buildings.

Self-manufacturing

In order to make transparent blocks of concrete, it is necessary to purchase a fiber optic cord Ø 0.25-3 mm in a volume of about 4% of the total cubic capacity of the planned mixture.

The technology includes the following steps:

• Assemble the sliding formwork to the desired size. Some masters make it of great length and subsequently cut the resulting timber into separate fragments.
• Prepare a solution in the proportion of 1 part of cement, 3 fine-grained sifted sand, ½ of water. It is possible to buy a ready-made dry mix and mix it with water to the desired consistency. Crushed stone is not used if it is not included in the creative intent of the designer. It is better to take purified water, with a low salt content.
• The formwork is set on a horizontal, flat plane. A small amount of the composition is poured into it and distributed in a thin layer.
• Fiberglass is cut to the thickness of the block and laid in a row, pressing into the concrete. The threads lie parallel, with their ends to the front face, without curvature.
• After setting the solution, the operation is repeated until the desired height is obtained. The top layer should cover all fibers.
• Production of 1 form takes 3-5 days (the element is kept in the formwork for 2-3 days), depending on the ambient temperature, air humidity.
• For the full-fledged operation of the optical fiber, the front faces are ground, obtaining a smooth transparent surface.

Optical fiber serves as reinforcing elements, therefore, for better adhesion, a plasticizer suitable for operating conditions can be added.

The cost of translucent material

The creator company Litracon Bt sells concrete at high prices for mass construction. A block with a thickness of 20 cm is sold for 100,000 rubles per 1 m2. Decorative properties are used for Litrocube lamps, the price of which is 43,000 rubles with a weight of 10 kg. In the Moscow region, LLC Mosstroytransgaz - Development sells 1 m2 of a light ston sheet of its own production with a size of 30x300x900 mm at a price of 20,000 rubles.

Interpol has opened its own workshop, where it is manufactured in 4 basic colors:

• white marble;
• grey;
• sandstone;
• dark grey.

When making an individual application, the base solution can be colored at the request of the customer. Interpol's standard Illumicon product line is available in the following sizes:

Thickness, mm	Dimensions, mm
	300x300	600x300	900x300	400x400	600x400	800×400	1200x400	per 1 m2
	Cost, rubles
20	2790	5270	7680	4690	6870	9030	13380	27150
25	3110	5900	8690	5270	7750	10200	15130	30820
30	3490	6600	9720	5900	8670	11460	17000	34730
35	3590	6850	10090	6120	9010	11900	17660	36090
40	3760	7170	10590	6400	9450	12500	18560	37960
45	4080	7820	11560	6990	10300	13630	20280	41530
50	4400	8450	12510	7550	11150	14760	21960	45050

Concrete is one of the most demanded materials in construction, which has a long service life and high performance characteristics. The main disadvantage is not aesthetic appearance requiring additional finishing. Transparent variety - completely New Product, in which it was possible to combine all the best qualities of the usual composition with unique aesthetic properties.

Transparent concrete can be called rather conditionally, since only the contours of the objects behind the structure are visible through it and only when the light flux is directed from the back side. In cloudy weather or in the evening, this material does not have significant differences from the usual one, all its properties are fully revealed only in sunlight or when using special lighting.

It consists of two main components: fine-grained concrete and fiberglass, which serves as the basis for the operation of the reflective matrix. The diameter of glass fibers is mainly taken as 2 mm, and their total share does not exceed 5%.

Transparent concrete has all the structural and operational parameters of the traditional one, such as:

• strength;
• hardness;
• water resistance;
• heat and noise insulation characteristics.

Fiberglass also performs a reinforcing function, increasing some of the properties of the material:

• moisture absorption - up to 6%;
• frost resistance - up to the degree of F50;
• bending strength - up to grade Рtb30;
• compressive strength - up to grade M250.

Areas of use

Thanks to the advent of translucent concrete, new opportunities have opened up in the design and engineering of buildings, especially in modern and high-tech styles.

Most commonly used for:

• interior surface finishes;
• construction of interior partitions;
• construction of external and load-bearing walls;
• production of plumbing fixtures (washbasins, bathtubs);
• production of decorative benches, fountains, arbors.

Does not lose its properties and characteristics under the influence sun rays and temperature fluctuations, and therefore can be used not only for internal, but also for external work. To create blocks suitable for construction load-bearing structures buildings and meeting all safety requirements, it is necessary special technology production, implying the addition of various building mixtures, resins and quartz flour to the composition.

For interior decoration rooms, panels of translucent concrete are predominantly selected. They are fixed on the wall by bolting or frame structures. They can also be used as a floor covering.

The main disadvantage, due to which the material has not yet become widespread in construction, is the too high price due to expensive components. For the same reason, products are not yet available to most people and are rarely used in interior design.

Manufacturing technology

The production technique consists in the layer-by-layer imposition of a fine-grained mixture and fiberglass. To obtain the required characteristics after setting the solution and gaining strength, additional processing is performed. Transparent light-conducting concrete is ground and polished to obtain the smoothest possible surface, necessary for maximum light transmission and maximum decorative effect.

The optical parameters of the material do not depend on the thickness of the products, the main importance is the uniformity of the laying of the fibers and their percentage in the finished product. The fine-mesh structure looks more airy, conveying the edges of the object. Increasing the thread density increases the transparency effect.

The production of light-conducting blocks is impossible in the conditions of a construction site, since special equipment is required for high-quality mixing of the mixture. But for own needs you can try to do it yourself.

Making concrete with your own hands

The main difficulty lies in the need to introduce exactly 5% fiberglass. Threads that fit strictly in one direction must necessarily be of the same length, equal to the thickness of the block.

Materials required:

• purified water;
• fiberglass threads of the required length with a cross section of 0.25 to 3 mm;
• a carefully dried mixture of cement and finely sifted sand.

The production technology includes the following steps:

• the manufacture of a "floating" formwork, moving up as it solidifies;
• pouring a thin layer of the prepared solution into a form installed on a flat horizontal surface;
• fiberglass threads are placed in the mixture and are slightly recessed in it;
• after waiting for the time necessary for setting, the next layer is poured and another row of fiberglass is laid;
• pouring and laying threads are repeated until the volume of the formwork is completely filled;
• at the end of the hardening of the last layer, the frame is dismantled, the edges of the block from the side of the ends of the fiberglass should be ground and polished.

According to the technology for the independent production of fine-grained concrete, it is necessary to mix cement and sand in a ratio of 1 to 3. Water is added depending on the amount of cement used, no more than half of its mass.

Dry ingredients are loaded into the mixer and mixed for a minute. After the composition has acquired homogeneity, water is added, and mixing continues for another 5 minutes. In the manufacture of blocks, both in the factory and with your own hands, the mobility of the solution is important: the slightest displacement can lead to a decrease in throughput, but it allows you to create an original pattern on the surface.

According to the technology, finishing processing is carried out 2-3 days after pouring. To do this, the formwork is dismantled, and the resulting block is left for "ripening", if possible, providing its protection from the effects of precipitation. Incomplete solidification occurs 3-5 days after pouring.

The cost of concrete in Moscow

Rates for this unique innovative product depend on the form and complexity of manufacturing, technical and operational characteristics.

The price of the most popular products in Moscow:

Manufacturer	Name	Dimensions, mm	Cost, rubles
Mosstroytransgaz-Development LLC, Russia	Light Stone	1 m2	20000
ILLUMINART, Russia	ILLUMICON	1 m2	17955
Litracon Bt, Hungary	Litracon	1 m2	69800
Litracon Bt, Hungary	Prefabricated blocks Litracon Classic	1200x400x(25-200)	90000-320000
Litracon Bt, Hungary	Litracube lamp	221x175x175	54000
Germany	Lucem lightweight concrete slabs	1250x650x(15-50)	from 90000
Germany	Worktop Lucem	1200x600x20	89500

The highest prices for products from manufacturers from Europe, and for ready-made products, and Russian companies offer to purchase transparent concrete the cheapest - its cost is relatively low.

In the field of modern construction, the most various materials. And one of the most popular is concrete. Today it has a lot of varieties with distinctive advantages and characteristics. Among them is a unique transparent concrete, which is able to transmit light and literally transform the interior of the room.

Origin story

Due to the excellent performance, concrete mix structures are widely used in a wide variety of construction areas. However, traditional concrete has a rather unsightly appearance, so you should not expect high decorativeness from it.

In this regard, manufacturers of building materials began to look for new revolutionary solutions and invent beautiful raw materials with a designer appearance. Light-conducting (transparent) concrete is in no way inferior in quality and strength to ordinary mixtures, but at the same time it looks especially beautiful and attractive.

In a short period of time, the innovative material began to be in great demand and found a response in the hearts of many designers and architects. Currently, it has practically no competitors that can boast of similar strength, reliability and beauty.

Creator new technology"Litracon", which allows the material to transmit light, was the Hungarian architect Aron Loskonshi.

The skilled craftsman was faced with the task of making the wall structures light-transmitting, and at the same time not harming their strength in any way. When searching optimal solutions the architect decided to change the internal structure of the concrete by adding a light-conducting optical fiber to the composition.

As a result, Aron managed to invent very original concrete blocks, which in all respects are suitable for the construction of buildings for various purposes.

Advantages and Features

The composition of light-transmitting concrete contains only safe components that previously undergo an environmental assessment and do not contain harmful impurities. This means that the use of the material does not harm the environment and the health of residents.

Of the shortcomings, only the fact that the litracon is almost impossible to obtain in the formwork at the construction site stands out. Therefore, in most cases, it is bought in special construction hypermarkets, and manufactured at industrial enterprises with the appropriate equipment.

For the manufacture of fiber, it is necessary to use the method of layering fiberglass and fine-grained concrete mixture. As soon as the solution finally sets and gains the desired strength, the surface of the block is processed again. This is required to obtain excellent light transmission characteristics.

The first application of light-conducting concrete looks a little strange. The designers tried to make a bizarre lamp in the form of a cube based on the material, the weight of which was about 10 kilograms. Soon, the scope of litracon began to expand, and he began to actively capture the building materials market.

Today, a wide variety of decorative ideas are made of transparent concrete and embody any design solutions in construction and interior design. The fantasies of creative people can only be limited by the rather high cost of the material.

Concerning self-manufacturing, then the difficulties in performing such a task are associated with the need to include in the structure about 4 percent of the fiber from total mass. Moreover, all its threads must be placed in one specific direction, which complicates production.

Technology overview

The production of light-conducting concrete is carried out according to a complex patented technology, which is constantly being modernized and acquires a lot of changes. However, it is still impossible to create monolithic structures from a transparent concrete composition, since there are no ideal strength parameters.

The features of the technology are as follows:

It should be noted that the technology of vibrocasting is characterized by particular simplicity, therefore, if desired, you can make transparent concrete with your own hands.

Components and equipment for production

In order to make light-transmitting concrete using vibrocasting technology, it is important to take care of some working tools and equipment. Among them:

1. Container for mixing solution.
2. formwork form.
3. Vibrating table.

The choice of components should be guided by the classic composition for fine-grained concrete. It includes:

1. Portland cement.
2. Fine-grained sand without impurities and lumps.
3. Additional plasticizers that provide better fluidity of the slow-moving solution.
4. Water without all kinds of chemical impurities.

It is also necessary to find an optical fiber with a suitable length, which is determined taking into account the thickness of the block. Optimum diameter equal to 0.5−2.5 millimeters. The glass fiber content should not exceed 5 percent.

Composition and preparation

To successfully create a litracon, you need to mix the above components in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:2.5. The volume of liquid in the composition should not exceed 50% of the total amount of cement.

A novice builder can be guided by such a calculation from which one is created cubic meter light-conducting concrete:

1. Portland cement - 500 kilograms.
2. Clean sand - 1500 kilograms.
3. Water - 250 liters.

Before adding impurities in the form of plasticizers to the consistency, it is important to carefully read the step by step guide which is provided on the packaging. Initially, loose components are stirred until a homogeneous mass is formed. Then the liquid is added and the solution is thoroughly mixed for another five minutes. If a plasticizer is added, the mixing time may be increased.

Performance properties and applications

Luminous concrete is a full-fledged composite material, which is obtained as a result of the use of vibrocasting or pressing technology. As a result, it receives a number of technical characteristics, including the following:

1. Compressive strength - up to 35 MPa.
2. Bending strength - more than 2 MPa.
3. Water resistance - not less than W4.
4. Frost resistance - not less than 75 cycles.
5. Moisture absorption - no more than six percent.

As you know, when creating a translucent material, it is not customary to use a large filler. As a result, the optical fiber plays the role of a reinforcing additive.

As for the scope of such an innovative building material, they are quite extensive. And although light passes through the wall structures made of transparent concrete, and a person inside the room can see the contours, it is still impossible to examine the details of objects behind the wall in more detail.

However, due to the high strength characteristics, all kinds of internal partitions and components of load-bearing walls are constructed from composite light-transmitting blocks. At the same time, the high cost of the material makes it in demand only for decorative finishing work.

In the tiled version, light-transmitting concrete is used for finishing:

1. Wall structures.
2. Polov.
3. Stairs.
4. Interior elements.
5. furniture.

In addition, such concrete is often used as the main material for the construction of buildings. And although the cost of such buildings is excessively high, they are increasingly appearing in European countries.

Cost and brands

Currently on Russian market transparent concrete is offered from two main companies - Litracon and Lucem. But it is important to understand that both brands do not produce material, but are distributors of leading European manufacturing companies. As a result, the cost of products is growing due to the need to deliver to the Russian space.

In any case, a wide variety of decorative plates with any sizes, shapes and colors are offered for sale. If desired, you can buy a canvas in which the fibers are laid out in the form of a logo or product, and the blocks are equipped LED backlight. Of course, in this case, the price of the material will increase significantly.

As for the prices for popular panel models, the Litracon Classic prefabricated structure with dimensions of 1200 x 400 mm and a thickness of 25 millimeters will cost the buyer at a price of 90 thousand rubles. With an increase in thickness to 200 millimeters, you will have to pay about 320 thousand rubles.

The cost of Litracube Lamp blocks with dimensions of 221 x 175 x 175 mm and a thickness of 25 millimeters is 54,500 rubles per unit.

DIY creation

As you know, industrial transparent concrete, the production technology of which was described above, is quite expensive, so not everyone can afford to buy such material. Fortunately, with some effort, a litracon can be created independently. To do this, you need to perform several actions:

1. Prepare formwork with suitable size rectangular shape.
2. Run the first layer of mortar and lightly compact it.
3. Lay out the optical fiber and press into the solution.
4. Wait until the consistency hardens.

The form is filled in several stages, repeating the layers until the formwork is completely filled. It should be noted that when making concrete with your own hands, the frequency of fiber layers will become several times less than that of factory counterparts. At the same time, the decorative effect of the material will remain identical.

If mobile mixtures are used during operation, this will achieve the effect of uneven distribution. Although this approach will slightly reduce light transmission, it will give a unique surface pattern.

Regardless of the composition of the solution, the laying of the next layer is carried out only after the previous one has set.

Final stage

It is necessary to remove the formwork no earlier than two days after the final fixation of the last layer of the fill. The block then needs to be left for five days at 20-degree temperature and 95 percent relative humidity.

During this period of time, the material should gain about 80 percent of its maximum strength, so further processing will not degrade its quality in any way. After removing the block from the formwork, it must be carefully sanded. This need is due to the fact that during production, the ends of the fiber bundles are tightened with concrete milk, which prevents the free passage of the light source. To grind the working side of the blocks, which is perpendicular to the direction of laying the fiber, you need to use diamond discs.

Without a doubt, translucent concrete is a real work of construction art. This material has many unique properties and characteristics, including excellent strength, durability and decorative appeal. With it, you can equip wall partitions, giving buildings unique properties and adding sunlight.

If there is no financial opportunity to buy material in a store, you can try to create it yourself. The main thing is to follow the step-by-step guide and correctly calculate the proportions.

For more than half a century, concrete has been one of the most popular building materials. The combination of high strength, resistance to external influences and durability makes it possible to create buildings based on this material, the service life of which exceeds 50 years.

The main problem of concrete has always been its low aesthetics and unsuitability for creating interesting design and architectural solutions. That is why transparent concrete after its appearance has become a real find for many designers. The ability of such a durable and dense material to transmit light made it possible to create a new generation of interiors.

Features and main properties of the composite

The unique concrete owes its appearance to the Hungarian Aron Losonci. In search of ways to add light to the premises, while maintaining the structural reliability of concrete, the architect came to the conclusion that the modification of the material must be carried out from the inside, changing its structure.

As a result of numerous experiments, about 15 years ago, transparent concrete appeared, made on the basis of a fine-grained composite and fiberglass as the base light-conducting filler. The created material was called "Litracon".

The technology for making transparent concrete has changed, but is still very specific. Filling massive structures with such a composite is impossible due to the complexity of the distribution of fibers. As a result, blocks became the optimal form of release.

In fact, during the manufacture of the material, bundles of glass fibers are placed between layers of fine-grained concrete. After hardening, a large number of conductive elements remain in the body of the material, creating a unique light pattern in the concrete body.

Despite the specific appearance, transparent concrete is produced using the classic fine-grained composite technology, therefore it has all the basic properties of this material. The main characteristics of the material include:

• compressive strength from 20 to 35 MPa;
• tensile bending strength of at least 2 MPa;
• water resistance level W4 - W8;
• frost resistance not less than 75 cycles;
• water absorption does not exceed 6%.

The absence of coarse filler in the body of the composite increases the possibility of deformation and shear, so glass fiber for transparent concrete additionally performs the function of internal reinforcement, being a kind of analogue of fiber.

In production conditions, the technology of staged casting or layer-by-layer vibrocompression can be used to manufacture the material. Both options provide reliable fastening of the fibers while maintaining high performance characteristics of the composite as a whole.

Despite the apparent complexity of implementation, transparent concrete can be made by hand with a little effort and effort.

Composite application

The unique material is most often used for decorative purposes. High strength allows you to build internal partitions from it in rooms, providing access for more light. This option internal walls especially in demand in office premises, in the design of cafes and restaurants, as well as entertainment complexes.

A transparent composite is often cut into tiles for wall, floor or ceiling decoration. The use of material as the main material in the construction of buildings is in principle possible, but not economically feasible. The cost of transparent concrete is extremely high, and the performance of any production line cannot meet the needs of a full-fledged construction.

In addition, under the influence of external moisture and temperature changes, glass fiber can enter into alkali-silicate reactions with cement stone minerals, which leads to the destruction of the material.

The combination of all factors has led to the fact that the unique composite remains very exotic. finishing material used to create decorative partitions, as well as decorative elements.

Self-manufacturing

To create transparent concrete with your own hands, you do not need special equipment or specific skills. You can also make it at home. In fact, the preparation of such material will require good formwork and careful adherence to technology.

Materials and equipment

For the preparation of the solution, it is best to use a forced mixer capable of providing a high degree of uniformity of the slow-moving mixture. When using a gravity mixer, it is necessary to reduce the volume of a single batch and increase the mixing time by at least 2 times.

From raw materials you will need:

• cement or mixed binder;
• sand for construction works 1 class with size module 2 - 3;
• fiberglass with a diameter of 0.5 - 2.5 mm and a length equal to the thickness of the product;
• modifiers that improve the formability of slow-moving mixtures.

The use of mobile mixtures involves the rapid setting of each layer of fine-grained concrete, on which bundles of glass fibers are laid. It is easier to make layers from slow-moving mixtures that can retain their shape after compaction.

Special modifiers contribute to obtaining a dense and uniform structure of the base composite for transparent concrete. Sand should be used of medium size with a minimum amount of impurities, dusty and silty particles.

Composition and preparation of fine-grained concrete

To perform the base composite, it is best to mix cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 2.5-3 by weight. The amount of water should not exceed half the mass of cement. IN general view the composition of fine-grained concrete per 1 m3 can be represented as follows:

• cement = 450 - 500 kg;
• sand = 1300 - 1500 kg;
• water = 200 - 250 kg.

When using modifiers, their dosage is prescribed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. After loading into the mixer, sand and cement are mixed for a minute until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, then mixing water is introduced, and mixing is ensured for at least 5-8 minutes. After obtaining a homogeneous mixture, the production of transparent concrete begins.

For the manufacture of a composite, a formwork with a base in the form of a rectangle is prepared. A peculiar block is filled with a mixture in several stages. First, the lower layer of fine-grained concrete, no more than 0.5 - 1 cm thick, is laid and compacted. Then fiberglass bundles are laid along so as to cover almost the entire surface of the concrete.

Next, the next layer of fine-grained concrete of the same thickness is laid and compacted. From above, a new mesh of glass fibers is created, laid across. Then the procedure is repeated until the formwork is filled.

By changing the direction of the fiberglass bundles, light will be able to pass through all the side faces of the manufactured block. Of course, the periodicity of the conductive elements will be less frequent than that of the prefabricated material, but the composite will retain the decorative properties.

The use of mobile mixtures leads to uneven distribution and displacement of fiber bundles. This effect slightly worsens the conductivity for light, but creates an interesting pattern in the body of the material. When using a movable mixture, the laying of a new layer is carried out after the loss of mobility of the previous one.

Finishing

The product is demoulded 48-72 hours after production. Next, the block is kept at a temperature of 20 ° C and a humidity of 95% for 3 to 5 days. During this period, concrete will acquire up to 80% of its strength and will be able to withstand the final processing.

After stripping, all fiberglass bundles are covered with cement laitance, so they do not conduct light. To give the material light-transmitting properties, all side surfaces of the block must be sanded diamond discs various graininess.

If desired, the product can be sawn into tiles of a given thickness. The cut must be carried out perpendicular to the laying layers.

Litracon, litracube, illumicon, luce - fabulous names for building material, about which, as many believe, almost everything is known. Strong, gray and heavy concrete could provide complex intricate shapes and scale, but aesthetically, the concrete structure still lost. We owe an unexpected look and the collapse of the stereotype about this most common building material to an architect from Hungary. The invention of transparent concrete dates back to 2001.

Fiber optic strands, when incorporated into a fine-grained concrete mix, make the concrete transparent, airy and stunningly decorative. An evenly distributed fiber within 4-5% is required, and the subsequent "cutting" is practically the whole idea.

The first masterpiece created from transparent concrete was a ten-kilogram lamp for decorating the interior, and this item immediately caused a rush. The cost of transparent concrete is still quite high, which basically restrains the imagination of designers. The main application of transparent structural concrete is bold and original design in urban projects and exclusive interior decor. The production of transparent concrete is available in many countries, and domestic producers are also not far behind, and prices, as they say, are much lower. There are also enthusiasts who have mastered the small-scale production of luminous concrete at home, although this process cannot be called simple - just grinding and polishing along the edges of fiber optic filaments requires painstaking perseverance. And "concreting" is an artistic extreme, because each thin layer of pouring the concrete mixture must be done along neatly and evenly laid fibers, and the setting time must also be calculated.

The technology of light-transmitting concrete is innovative and very expensive. Large aggregates are excluded from the composition, but nevertheless, the strength and related characteristics of transparent concrete unambiguously determine this material as a structural one. All basic parameters are preserved - compressive strength, frost resistance and water resistance. 5% fiberglass filaments work similarly to fiber reinforcement. transparent concrete has low tensile strength and decent bending resistance values.

For designers, the potential of this material is huge - after all, blocks and panels are not completely transparent, they are anisotropic and give a lot of interesting chiaroscuro and effects. The patterns within the concrete magically change as the intensity and direction of the light changes. There is something fabulous about how instantly dense and heavy material of load-bearing structures becomes transparent. From illumikon and litrakon perform bearing walls quite traditional. But as soon as light falls on concrete surfaces, the stone becomes transparent, patterns that do not repeat are visible in it, and silhouettes of people in neighboring rooms or on the street are visible behind the stone. Light-conducting concrete panels are very decorative, having a thickness of several centimeters, fixed in a profile frame and illuminated with ordinary fluorescent light or LED strips. Dynamic multimedia illumination of LEDs connected to the control unit will respond to the rhythm of steps or the beat of music, and at the same time LED lighting is the most economical.

Raw materials, components and technical characteristics of transparent concrete

Concrete is produced on a cement binder. Aggregates of large fractions, crushed stone, gravel, etc. are not used due to the specificity of the process. Fine aggregate - sand (size module 2-3). Optical fiber, protected from the alkaline environment of concrete, in an amount of 4 to 5% and plasticizing modifier additives, sometimes rheological additives - hardening retarders. It is possible to introduce plastic resins, as well as special coloring pigments that are resistant to alkalis. concrete properties are normal:

• specific gravity about 2250-2350 kg/m3
• branded compressive strength M250 - M350
• thermal conductivity coefficient 2.105 W/m*deg С
• frost resistance within F50 - F75
• water resistance W4 - W8
• water absorption up to 6%
• sound insulation index 46 dB
• non-flammable, NG group
• absolute UV resistance

There are always risks of destruction of the silicate of fiber optic strands in the alkaline environment of cement, especially in the presence of moisture and atmospheric water, but in this case they are minimal, since the cross section of the strands is very small. Theoretically, it is possible to pour slabs of any thickness and even massive structures, but in practice they are limited to a thickness of 200 mm and a little higher, due to the specifics of the layout of fiber optic strands. It is believed that major improvements in the production of luminous concretes are yet to come. Concretes react both to sunlight and to artificial lighting, and always look different, especially if they are tinted with pigments.

Main Applications

The main colors of the produced blocks and plates are gray, white and black, and the surfaces are treated by polishing and grinding, to a gloss or matte sheen. Use of products - decorative, for an interior or furnish of rooms. Possible stationary partitions and backlit cladding. Stairs on the rails with steps made of transparent concrete slabs look great. Original decor and furniture items are popular - chairs, benches, countertops, window sills, floor slabs and tiles, sinks and lamps. full-fledged frames and a monolith made of transparent concrete are not yet available both in terms of price and technology, and are used only in unique projects.

The blocks are connected according to the type of masonry on cement-sand and lime mortars with the addition epoxy resin, polymers and a filler of quartz sand or mineral chips, dye additives are possible. According to the norms fire safety, about strength and stability, this masonry meets all the requirements for the construction of load-bearing wall structures. Fasteners are made on anchor bolts and frame anchors.

Making transparent concrete blocks with your own hands

A very cost-effective idea, as the components for transparent concrete are no more expensive than for ordinary concrete, as are the formwork and mixing equipment. The main difficulty is to lay the fiber optic strands into the structure and orient them in a strictly defined way - practically in one line. You will need a fine-grained dry mix for concrete (self-selection of the composition from M400 Portland cement, quartz sand and plasticizer is possible), clean water and fiber optic threads with a cross section of up to 0.25; 0.5; 1.0 mm and length according to the thickness of future blocks or slabs. the maximum thickness of the threads is called 2.5 mm. The basic composition is C:P:V = 1/3/0.5.

It is necessary to knead with a concrete mixer or a construction mixer, in small portions, the homogeneity of the mixture is very important, which is almost impossible to achieve by hand kneading. The mixture should be mobile, but not fluid and without signs of separation. Water is introduced after mixing, cement binder and sand, the total mixing time is not less than 6-7 minutes. It is optimal to take ready-made dry mixes with an accurate dosage and select the water-cement ratio on your own.

The formwork must be constructed in the form of a box, but according to the principle of sliding formwork - the walls must be able to smoothly move upwards as the lower layers of the fill set. The formwork can be of any configuration, but for the first experiments it is not advisable to take complex shapes, a cube or a rectangle is better. It is important to have a stable and even position of the formwork, with a strict alignment of the horizon.

The first layer of the concrete mixture is poured thinly - up to 1 cm, only to fix the "cushion", and therefore the optical fiber is immediately distributed to the layer, sinking it a little. You can stack in bunches, draw pictures or logos - after gaining minimal skills. As soon as the bottom layer has passed the first phase of setting, the next dose of liquid concrete is carefully poured and the fiber is laid again. The bottom layer must not be damaged. Consolidation of the mixture is practically impossible, and the addition of a plasticizer is necessary for the mobility of the mixture. The algorithm is repeated, gradually shifting the box until the desired size of the product is reached. After setting the last layer, the formwork is removed. The exposure time depends on the hardening conditions, and it is better to set them to the optimum - air humidity of at least 95%, temperature from 25⁰С. Keep the product in the formwork should be at least a day, possibly up to three days. After dialing the necessary mechanical work strength (normally seven days under normal hardening conditions), grinding and polishing of the edges of the product, perpendicular to the cross section of the fiber optic filaments, begin. Grinding is necessary, this process is also carried out in factories to open the cross sections of the fiber, covered with a cement film and mortar. Finishing requires grinding with a diamond disc.

The time spent pays off, because handicraft transparent products turn out to be exclusive and worthy in quality, and with the acquisition of some skill, you can also make very artistic things. It is possible to manufacture countertops, decor elements and practical things - lamps or slabs for floor and wall cladding. Do-it-yourself transparent concrete is a laborious and painstaking process, but manufacturers' prices, which indicate prices up to hundreds of thousands of rubles for one product with a size of 1.2 * 0.6 m, definitely inspire work.

There is nothing difficult in the process - to lay fiber optics and a fine-grained moving mixture in layers, and after curing, sand it - for maximum decorativeness and optimal light-transmitting effect. It is interesting that the optical characteristics do not depend at all on the thickness and size of the products, but only on the accuracy of the position of the fiber optic strands and their percentage in the composition. Although it should be noted that fine-mesh concretes have more illusory airiness, products made from them show all their edges, angles and structure “through”. The denser the light guides, the greater the light transmission effect.

Another interesting effect that is worth experimenting with is that marriage in work in the form of random displacement of fiber optic strands (as a result of too much mobility, fluidity of the mixture, or from mechanical stress during pouring) will lead to a decrease in light transmission, but patterns to the light become unique. But in any case, each product is unique.