Recommendation points
- What is transparent concrete made of
- Areas of application. Technical characteristics of light-transmitting concrete
- Installation and operational features
It would seem that there is no more boring building material than concrete, but even its modern technologies have not been spared. Not so long ago, litracon appeared on the market – a transparent type of concrete. We will tell you about its composition, features and applications in our article..
The history of using concrete in construction has more than one thousand years. The pouring mixture, which appeared about 60 centuries ago, is still the basis of both multi-storey projects and private sector development. The only drawback of concrete – its visual unattractiveness – is more than covered by the strength of the composition and a wide range of applications..
As a rule, the grayness of concrete walls is masked in various ways: all kinds of mixtures for decorative plastering, curtain wall systems, sheathing with plastic and metal siding or painting with various tinted impregnations come to the rescue.
Hungarian architect Aron Loskonshi decided to look at the problem more broadly, suggesting a way to transform concrete not from the outside, but from the inside. The result of long experiments with the composition was a novelty that has no analogues – transparent light-conducting concrete. In 2001, Aron patented an innovative composition that received the international name LiTraCon (litracon).
Transparent concrete was developed to “brighten” office premises, but for the first time it was used for its intended purpose only in 2005 during the construction of a mansion in Germany.
What is transparent concrete made of
The light transmittance of the litracon is conditional: in fact, through this material, you can only see the contours or the color of the silhouettes behind it. In this case, the room should be illuminated from the inside. In bad weather or in the evening, transparent concrete outwardly does not differ from the classical version, its amazing properties are manifested by artificial lighting or sunlight.
Litracon contains fine-grained concrete and fiber-optic fiber (glass fiber), which creates a reflective matrix. The diameter of the glass fibers varies from 2 microns to 2 millimeters, and the percentage is about 5% of the total mass of concrete.
Fiber optic does not have a tangible effect on the strength, sound and noise insulation characteristics of the material, therefore, according to all properties, litracon is equal to concrete.
Areas of application. Technical characteristics of light-transmitting concrete
Light-transmitting concrete has become a real discovery for designers and planners. Due to its originality, it can be used for high-tech and modern buildings and premises:
- Walling.
- Interior partitions.
- Cladding the surface of walls and columns.
- Architectural forms – fountains, lamps, benches.
- Domestic use – countertops, washbasins.
- Construction of load-bearing walls.
The only disadvantage of litracon is its exorbitant cost, reaching several thousand euros per square meter. The price category, due to the use of very expensive fiber optic, makes translucent concrete inaccessible for mass development. However, litracon is used more and more often for decorating and zoning various rooms..
The German concern LUCEM currently produces blocks and panels made of light-transmitting material under the trademark of the same name:
Blocks Panels Size, cm 24×11.5×7.1 49,5×49,5 Possible thickness, cm – 2.5; 3; 4 Color spectrum white, gray, black white, gray, black Density, kg / m3 2300 2300 Thermal conductivity, W / (m? K) 2.1 2.1 Sound insulation Rw, decibel 46 46 The front surface of blocks and panels is polished to a mirror finish.
Installation and operational features
Litracon is immune to temperature extremes and ultraviolet rays, so it can be used for both interior and facade work.
Blocks of light-transmitting concrete are laid out using mortars on a lime or cement basis, or glued with a special compound based on epoxy resins and quartz flour. Litracon masonry meets all safety standards, including firefighters, and can be used for load-bearing walls.
Transparent concrete panels are intended for interior decoration. They can be anchored to walls using frame structures or anchor bolts, and can also be used as floor coverings.
It should be noted that the thickness of the litracon does not in any way affect its light transmittance, the only condition is the presence of a light source.
The high cost of the new item made it inaccessible to a wide range of buyers. Translucent concrete is not yet produced in Russia. Lovers of exclusiveness can pamper themselves with a custom-made “lamp” from abroad. True, this pleasure will cost a pretty penny: a ten-kilogram cube costs about 600 euros excluding delivery.
Wow, transparent concrete sounds fascinating! I’m curious to know more about its properties and potential applications. Does it have the same strength and durability as regular concrete? How is it made and what makes it transparent? Are there any limitations or drawbacks to using transparent concrete in construction projects?
Transparent concrete, also known as translucent concrete, is indeed a fascinating material with unique properties and potential applications. It offers a balance between strength and translucency, making it a viable alternative to regular concrete. Its strength and durability are comparable to traditional concrete due to a combination of optical fibers and fine materials embedded within the concrete matrix.
To create transparent concrete, a thin layer of special concrete is cast with embedded optical fibers that allow light to pass through. The fibers distribute light across the material, creating its translucent effect. The concrete is made by replacing traditional aggregates with translucent and light-transmitting materials, resulting in its unique property.
Despite its innovative nature, transparent concrete does have some limitations. It is more expensive to produce compared to regular concrete. Additionally, it can transmit only diffused light, which reduces the clarity of the transmitted image. This limits its potential applications in situations where high transparency or clarity is required. Furthermore, it may have lower insulation properties compared to traditional concrete due to the inclusion of light-transmitting materials.
While transparent concrete offers exciting possibilities for architecture and design, its specific use cases may be limited to decorative elements, interior partitions, or façades that prioritize diffused light rather than transparency. Further research and development may help overcome these limitations and expand the applications of this innovative material.
What are the advantages of using transparent concrete (litracon) compared to traditional building materials? Does it affect the structural integrity or durability of the construction? How does it handle sunlight exposure and does it provide better natural lighting inside buildings?