PLASTIC MAKES INSULATING, LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE

AN AGGREGATE CALLED STYROPOR, DEVELOPED BY THE GERMAN COMPANY BASF, CONSISTS OF POLYSTYRENE BEADS WITH A FOAMING AGENT. THE BEADS ARE COATED WITH A THIN EPOXY BINDER TO DEVELOP MAXIMUM MECHANICAL STRENGTH. WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT DURING MIXING, THEY EXPAND 50 TIMES AND TRAP AIR INSIDE. THE MIX PRODUCES AN EXTREMELY HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO. THE MATERIAL IS SAID TO RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS SUBJECT TO FROST ACTION: BECAUSE OF ITS LOWER THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, 6--9 INCHES OF THE CONCRETE PLACED DIRECTLY ON A HIGHWAY SUBGRADE CAN PROVIDE THE FROST PROTECTION OF 24--36 INCHES OF GRAVEL. IT IS TOPPED BY A WEARING COURSE OF STRUCTURAL CONCRETE OR ASPHALT. A CONVENTIONAL SLIPFORMER HAS PLACED THE CONCRETE ON A FEDERAL HIGHWAY PROJECT IN AUSTRIA, AND IT HAS BEEN TESTED IN GERMANY AND SCANDINAVIA AS WELL. SMALL HIGHWAY SECTIONS ARE UNDER EVALUATION IN NEW JERSEY AND ALASKA.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08919526
• Publication Date: 1972-10-12

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 84
• Serial:
  • Engineering News-Record
  • Volume: 189
  • Issue Number: 15
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0891-9526

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Artificial aggregates; Concrete aggregates; Concrete pavements; Foaming agents; Frost protection; Plastics; Polystyrene
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00214195
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1973 12:00AM