Opilc concrete: an unusual and inexpensive type of building material for light and warm houses

When it comes to cutting edge building materials, Opilc concrete is a standout option. This unusual material offers a fusion of industrial and natural elements by mixing wood chips with cement. As a result, strong and warm concrete that is lightweight and insulating is produced, which makes it a great choice for building warm, energy-efficient homes.

Opilc concrete’s affordability is one of its main benefits. Conventional building materials can be expensive; however, Opilc concrete’s use of easily accessible wood waste drastically lowers costs. This makes it a desirable choice for homeowners and builders on a tight budget who want high-quality building without going overboard.

Apart from its affordability, Opilc concrete is renowned for its superior thermal characteristics. The concrete’s embedded wood chips produce air pockets that improve insulation and support a constant interior temperature. This translates into lower energy costs and a smaller environmental impact because Opilc concrete homes require less heating and cooling.

Opilc concrete is also a sustainable option. This material helps to create a more environmentally friendly building process by using wood waste that might otherwise be discarded. For anyone wishing to construct a warm, effective, and ecologically conscious home, Opilc concrete is an appealing choice because of its affordability, insulation qualities, and sustainability.

An economical and environmentally responsible substitute for cement-and-sawdust construction is optilc concrete, which can be used to construct light- and well-insulated homes. This novel material offers warmth and durability by fusing the strength of concrete with the thermal characteristics of wood. Optic concrete is an affordable and easily manipulable material that is a great option for individuals seeking to build eco-friendly and low-energy homes without going over budget.

What is an opillac concrete?

Opilc concrete, which consists of cement, water, sawdust, and mineral raw materials, is referred to as light concrete. Although it has been used for large-block construction for a long time (since the turn of the century), its popularity peaked in the 1990s. Apart from blocks, opilcoo concrete is also being used to construct monolithic structures. The material offers excellent heat and sound insulation, is safe, satisfies all current sanitary and hygienic standards, and is environmentally friendly.

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Differences of opilc concrete and arbolite

Similar to opilco concrete, arbolite is a term for light concrete that includes up to 80–90% synthetic additives, cement binder, and organic fillers. Arbolite typically consists of wood chips and wood chips as well as opilco concrete, which is smaller sawdust. As a result, the initial material used in production is far more expensive.

Crucial! The arbolite is more prone to deformations, compressions, and stretching because of the wood chips. Its production is labor-intensive, and preparing it at home presents challenges.

The composition of opillac concrete

The following ingredients must be used in order to produce opilco concrete:

• Cement – not lower than the M400 brand (the higher the brand, the denser and stronger the concrete will be);
• Sand is usually quartz, it is better;
• lime – serves as a preservative;
• sawdust – an ideal option is fresh spruce raw materials, but it is permissible to use forest processing waste of other conifers;
• Water – should be purified.

Old sawdust needs to be treated with specific solutions or 10% calcium chloride, lime milk, and liquid soap to prevent decay.

In a small volume, additional ingredients can also be added to the opilcoo concrete composition:

• rice straw;
• cotton stems;
• Flax fire.

Varieties of opillac concrete

The following block shapes can be created with opilc concrete, depending on the appointment:

• regulations – are used in the construction of partitions;
• walls – suitable for the construction of external and internal walls.

Blocks can have both hollow and full bodies. The latter contain voids of a particular type in varying amounts. Additionally, they are stronger and denser than before, easier to work with, and have a higher heat efficiency. Blocks are also through and deaf.

Another classification divides Opilc concrete into three groups:

1. Heat insulation (brands M5-M10). The average density is 400-800 kg/m³, thermal conductivity is up to 0.11 W/m*OS. Used to warm the walls.
2. Structural (brands M15-M20). The density is an order of magnitude higher-800-1200 kg/m³, thermal conductivity-from 0.32 W/m*OS. The material is suitable for building walls.
3. Monolithic. It is used for the device of screed, filling the frame.

Thermal conductivity

Opilc concrete has a density of roughly 800 kg/m^, making it thermally conductivity comparable to that of contemporary building materials. This indicator shows that it far outperforms brick, foam concrete, reinforced concrete, and several other building and structure construction raw materials.

Crucial! The thermal conductivity of a brick wall with a thickness of one meter is comparable to that of a wall composed of 30 cm thick opilco concrete.

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Advantages and disadvantages

Opilc concrete’s benefits and drawbacks have been extensively researched since the product first hit the market several decades ago. The following are this type of light concrete’s primary benefits:

• the ability to use recyclables in production;
• non -combustibility (sawdust lose the ability to ignition inside concrete), the ability to withstand an open flame with a temperature of +1200 degrees for several hours with low smoke formation;
• cheapness, ease of kneading at home;
• the availability of all components in the market (sawdust sometimes can even be obtained for free);
• excellent thermal insulation, noise -absorbing properties;
• decrease in heating and air conditioning costs;
• short terms for the construction of houses (especially if there are ready -made blocks);
• The evenness and beauty of the walls, their slight installation and simplicity sawed with an ordinary hacksaw, chainsaw;
• environmental friendliness, lack of harmful impurities;
• low risk of decay, mold (subject to normal humidity);
• small weights of structures, the ability to fill in lighter foundations;
• Resistance to stretching, bending, shocks, cracking.

The primary drawback of opilc concrete is its 8–12% moisture absorption level. The introduction of specific water-repellent additives can only reduce this percentage by 2%.

This characteristic makes construction very challenging:

• The masonry must be protected from precipitation, covered with a film;
• It is impossible to use material that was stored in the open air;
• We will have to make a roof with wide slopes so that the facade of the building does not get wet;
• It is important to equip high -quality external decoration, otherwise the frost resistance of the material will decrease.

Sawdust will absorb moisture and expand in volume if these recommendations are not followed, compromising the integrity of the construction stone. Because opilc concrete is weaker than aerated concrete in terms of strength, limitations on allowable loads and the number of storeys of buildings are also drawbacks.

Areas of use

Opilc concrete is most frequently used to build sheds, small one-story homes, bathrooms, and garages. You can use it to create pillars, fences, and basement and home wall insulation. It can be used for a variety of construction tasks, even if the project was initially intended to use different materials (to cut costs).

Foundation and base

It is not permitted to use light concrete that contains sawdust and chips for foundation installation. This will result in a subpar building, and ready-made housing will put people in danger.

The soil’s bearing capacity, the groundwater table, the existence of voids, and several other considerations are taken into account when selecting a particular brand of concrete for the base and foundation. If the walls are composed of opilco concrete, the base must allow the walls to rise at least 60 cm above the ground, and waterproofing must be installed on top.

Walls

You can pour monolithic buildings or use pre-made opilcoo concrete blocks to construct the walls. The M15–M20 stamps’ material is typically used to construct the walls of homes, cottages, sheds, and garages. They also rebuild historic structures with its assistance. Due to its excellent heat-insulating qualities, Opilc concrete from brands M5 to M10 is used to insulate finished walls.

Masonry from blocks

Using completed blocks speeds up the construction process, which is crucial during short construction times. Opilco concrete blocks do not have this disadvantage because concrete concrete becomes stronger over time. In this instance, the process for sutting and reinforcing walls will be identical to that of traditional aerated concrete.

Monolithic constructions

Because there are no masonry joints when employing this method, the house’s heat-insulating qualities are increased. The structure can have any shape or intricate geometry because of formwork. The wooden frames that hold the formwork in place also function as anti-audit measures.

The prepared mixture is poured and tamped down with bars in layers that are 150 mm thick. The reinforcement is positioned in the shape of a grid every 400 mm, and any two layers that are 150 mm thick are left alone for a week. The formwork is taken down and rearranged above after filling.

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Wall ending: monolithic belt or wooden beam

The "unloading structures" are put in place as the walls are raised to the top line. A strapping beam or metal beams fulfill this function (the latter is less effective because of the lime content in opilc concrete). The ceiling beam ends are covered with waterproof material.

Counseling! Installing a reinforced monolithic belt of plain concrete without organic fillers—such as those of the B20 brand or higher—is one way to unload the walls.

Roof

A house made of opilcoo concrete should have a light, strong, warm roof that is also well-protected from precipitation. The ideal roof pitch is one with overhangs that are 50 centimeters from the edges. Rain streams are diverted using drainage, stormwood gutters, and waste wood.

Manufacture of opilco concrete

When all of the material’s components are prepared ahead of time, it can be made independently without any issues.

Components

For labor they purchase:

• Cement M400;
• sand;
• sawdust;
• Gashenic lime;
• Prepare clean water.

To lower their humidity, sawdles are either dried in the sun or treated with chemical solutions. Clay can be added to the solution in place of the lime, if needed.

Proportions

The following are the approximate ratios of the ingredients in opilc concrete:

Opilco concrete brand	Cement	Sand	Sawdust	Lime
M10 (one -story house)	0.5	1.1	3.2	0.7
M15 (two -story house)	0.6	1.5	3.9	0.4
M25 (technological buildings)	0.5	1.4	3.2	0.4

The blocks’ suitability for non-residential building construction will increase with an increase in cement content due to the increased thermal conductivity. However, these structures are robust and long-lasting, and their dimensions can be increased.

Size of sawdust and requirements for them

Sawdust is typically taken from a sawmill, and whether it is strip or disk-shaped doesn’t really matter. The only materials that are unsuitable for the solution are shavings from electrical and calibration machines because they prevent you from creating a homogenous mass.

Crucial! Sawdust from conifers, ranging in size from 1 to 5 mm, is the best choice.

Sifting the raw materials is necessary because wood dust lowers quality. The surface hardens in 10 hours when added to sawdust made of spruce; it takes 15 hours for pine. The application of deciduous rocks requires up to four days for the concrete to cure.

The institution of the mixture

As it is difficult to prepare the solution by hand, you must use a concrete mixer. A small amount of detergent is added to the water if it is crucial to slow down the concrete’s rate of capture. The completed mixture ought to be held in lumps that do not leak water and do not crumble under their hands.

How to mix components?

The water mass is sealed after sawdust and lime have been added to the container, followed by cement and sand. If required, dilute the cement with water before adding the remaining ingredients.

Opilco concrete with gypsum

Gypsum can be substituted for cement in a mixture that can be used to build interior walls. Adding a detergent solves the issue of the solution solidifying too quickly. Gypsum opillac concrete is also appropriate for exterior walls if you create additional surfaces through atmospheric effects.

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Molding

The solution is poured and tamped into forms to make blocks. For two to five days, or until the maximum academic, the mass should be stored.

The blocks are dried in the air for several months after the cell is opened. To ensure that moisture dries out uniformly, wooden shapes must have a film lined on the inside.

Metal forms have internal lubrication. Metal pins stick to make blocks with holes in them spaced equally apart from one another.

Final drying

Under a canopy, scattering is done in midair. A film is applied to the blocks, allowing air to pass between them. The components below are set atop bricks. The material regains 90% of its strength after three months and is ready for use on the building site.

Topic	Details
Material	Opilc concrete
Features	Lightweight, Insulating
Cost	Inexpensive
Usage	Building light and warm houses
Advantages	Eco-friendly, Good thermal performance
Disadvantages	Less durable than traditional concrete

Opilc concrete provides a special and affordable way to construct warm and well-lit homes. When wood shavings or sawdust, its main ingredient, is combined with cement and water, the result is a material that combines the best qualities of both wood and conventional concrete. This unique combination not only offers superior insulation but also drastically lowers the structure’s overall weight, making it simpler to handle and move.

The thermal efficiency of opilc concrete is one of its most notable qualities. Tiny air pockets formed by the wood fibers in the mixture serve as organic insulators. As a result, homes constructed with opilc concrete are able to maintain a comfortable temperature longer, requiring less additional heating or cooling and ultimately saving a significant amount of energy.

Additionally, opting for organic concrete is a greener choice. It lessens the environmental impact of using conventional building materials and deforestation by making use of wood waste that might otherwise be discarded. In addition to being good for the environment, this sustainable strategy supports the expanding movement in favor of environmentally friendly building techniques.

Furthermore, opilc concrete’s affordability makes it a desirable option for homeowners and builders on a tight budget. Due to its low cost and decreased energy consumption and need for additional insulation materials, it is a financially sound choice for building sturdy, warm, and energy-efficient homes.

In summary, Portland cement concrete is a highly adaptable, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible building material. It is the perfect material for people who want to build warm, sustainable, and light-colored homes without going over budget because of its special composition and advantageous qualities. Optic concrete is positioned to have a big impact on construction in the future as demand for greener building solutions increases.

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