Vermiculite is a worthy option for insulation. Vermiculite - bulk insulation Expanded vermiculite insulation

The introduction of innovative technologies has made it possible to create new insulation materials. Manufacturers have made an attempt to combine good thermal insulation properties with naturalness and high economic effect in one product. Vermiculite is one of these insulation materials. This mineral was found more than a century ago, but its exceptional properties have been used relatively recently.

Basic properties

Hydromica is not used in its natural form. The mineral serves as a raw material for the production of expanded vermiculite, which is widely used in many industries. To implement the swelling process, a temperature of 400–1000 °C is required. Heating contributes to the delamination of the mineral, which occurs due to the presence of water in the composition. Gradually turning into vapor, the liquid causes the mica to exfoliate.

The volume of material can increase by 20 times. Being exposed to high temperatures, cooling down, it retains a scaly structure. Then it is crushed to obtain a fraction of 5–20 mm.

Where is used

Expanded hydromica finds application in many areas:

• in the production of metal;
• in the chemical industry;
• in agriculture and animal husbandry;
• to ensure fire safety;
• in the production of thermal and cryogenic devices;
• in the construction industry.

In construction, the material is used as:

• dry heat-insulating filler;
• plaster mixtures;
• pressed boards.

Specifications

Such a wide distribution of insulation is facilitated by its qualities. In a loose state, this substance is golden or silver in color. The mineral is odorless and does not decompose.

Properties

Expanded vermiculite has a porous structure, so it volume weight can be in the range of 100-300 kg/m³. Also, the material has the following characteristics:

• density - 65–150 kg / m³;
• thermal expansion coefficient - 0.000014;
• hardness - 1–1.5;
• sound absorption coefficient - 0.7–0.8;
• thermal conductivity - 0.05–0.09 W / m * K;
• melting point - 1350°C.

Due to the elastic structure, heat-insulating boards can be obtained from bulk raw materials by pressing.

Filler Benefits

Vermiculite compared to other free-flowing heat-insulating heaters is different:

• high thermal insulation properties;
• biological stability, it does not rot and mold does not form on its surface;
• high operating temperature, which is in the range of 260–1100 °C;
• good fluidity, due to which voids of any shape can be filled;
• chemical inertness: it does not react with alkalis and acids;
• high sound insulation;
• long service life - over 60 years;
• lack of gas evolution under the influence of high temperatures.

Environmentally friendly mica does not contain heavy metals. It has a neutral pH. In the event of a fire, mica does not emit toxic gases, making it a step above other mineral products.

Flaws

Before laying the insulation, it is imperative to lay a layer of waterproofing, since in the expanded state, hydromica absorbs a large number of moisture. In addition, the material in the form of plates is expensive. The cost of bulk granular filler is much lower.

The most common method of insulation is the backfill method. Granular filler insulates many parts of buildings:

• pitched roofs;
• attic floors;
• walls;

Thermal insulation of a pitched roof

The thickness of the layer used for thermal insulation of the roof depends on climatic conditions and is within 10–20 cm. The work is carried out in the following sequence:

• vapor barrier film is laid on the rafters;
• a crate is mounted on the vapor barrier;
• the crate is covered with a layer of waterproofing, which is fixed with a construction stapler;
• loose insulation is poured into the resulting space;
• roofing material is laid on top and fixed.

The inside of the roof is lined with plywood, decorative panels, clapboard, etc.

Attic and floor insulation

Insulation of the floor and attic is carried out using the same technology.

The vapor barrier film is overlapped on the ceiling and wound on the logs. Adjacent rows must overlap each other by at least 10 cm. All seams are sealed with adhesive tape.

The insulator layer is filled up and leveled to a thickness of 10-15 cm. Then the second layer of vapor barrier is equipped. Such thermal insulation is not afraid of rodents and is not affected by fungus and mold.

The edges of the diaper should be wrapped up and glued. Two layers of plywood 10 mm thick can be laid on top of it. Docking of sheets should be carried out closely, providing a gap near the walls. Laying the second layer should be done in such a way that the middle of the sheet coincides with the seam of the bottom row.

warm walls

Backfilling of the insulator is carried out at the construction stage. Walls with bulk material - a multilayer system, including a bearing base, a facing layer and insulation.

Laying is carried out in such a way that between the lining and bearing wall a space was formed for filling the filler. To prevent shrinkage of bulk material, it is compacted during construction.

Works are performed in a certain sequence. The first stage is the erection of a load-bearing wall and the installation of the cladding: they must be carried out simultaneously to a height of 3–5 rows. The number of rows is determined by the height of the blocks used. Then vermiculite is backfilled, the insulation is rammed in height by 10–15%. Further work continues in the same sequence until the required height is obtained.

Walls filled with bulk insulator can "breathe", which eliminates the formation of condensate. To increase the thermal insulation performance, the wall surface can be plastered with warm mixtures, which are based on vermiculite.

Advantages of the backfill method

It is easier to work with bulk material than with molding heat insulators. The plates are cut to size and fixed with fasteners. In addition, the joints formed in this case can become cold bridges, leading to loss thermal insulation properties material.

Mineral plates become caked over time. Expanded granules do not shrink and do not cake. Due to their porous structure, they are characterized high level soundproofing.

If vermiculite is used as an insulator, a number of problems are solved at the same time. Due to its very low thermal conductivity, the insulator is fire-resistant, chemically inert, and reflective. Wall filled with loose insulation, during a fire it can become a good fire retardant barrier. Moreover, using such thermal insulation material, you can reduce the financial costs of home insulation.

IN modern construction both well-known heat and sound insulating materials - mineral wool, expanded clay, glass wool, and relatively new ones - perlite and vermiculite are widely used. They've already been recognized. professional builders, but somehow little used among private developers.

Their ability to retain heat and dampen noise is no worse than that of traditional heaters. Therefore, they should be considered as an alternative to some old materials.

The raw materials for the production of expanded perlite are silicate volcanic rocks.

When they heat the crushed rock to 1100 -1200 degrees, moisture evaporates from its particles, while they swell, and the cavities in them are filled with air. As a result, white or grayish granules are obtained, the diameter of which varies from 1 to 10 mm, the bulk density of the resulting material is from 75 to 150 kg/cubic meters. m.

The thermal conductivity of perlite is 0.043 - 0.053 W / m * K, and the porosity is 85%.

The smallest granules with a diameter of 1-2 mm are called perlite sand.

Small granules are used for such purposes as:

• production of acoustic materials;
• production of "warm" plaster;
• insulation of residential buildings;
• production of fire-resistant concrete.

The material has a number of advantages:

• light weight - perlite is lighter than expanded clay, therefore it does not create unnecessary loads on insulated structures;
• high temperature resistance - it withstands temperature drops from -200 to +900 degrees;
• the material is chemically neutral - therefore, the risk of corrosion of building structures is minimal;
• environmental friendliness - even when heated, perlite does not emit any harmful substances, nor does it cause allergic reactions;
• the property of perlite not to deform when heated makes it possible to use it in underfloor heating systems;
• high sound absorption, which is a consequence of the low bulk density of the material, avoids the installation of an additional layer of sound insulation;
• the material is biologically resistant - insects, rodents, mold and fungus do not start in it;
• the high melting point of perlite (1260 degrees) allows it to be used in fire-resistant structures;
• the high fluidity of the granular material makes it very effective as bulk heat and sound insulation.

• its high hygroscopicity - it actively absorbs water, but also actively gives it away. This property is widely used in agricultural technology when growing plants. If in construction material of small fractions is used, then in agriculture its varieties with larger granules are used. In construction, the ability of perlite to actively absorb water requires its use in conjunction with membrane waterproofing;
• The second big disadvantage is the ability of the material to generate a lot of dust. This circumstance requires the use of eye protection and respiratory protection when working with it. Therefore, before starting work with loose insulation, it is slightly moistened to reduce the amount of dust. After laying, the granules quickly evaporate water, and the material acquires its original properties.

As a heater, perlite has 4 forms of release:

• bulk material used as backfilling for floors and floors, for backfilling cavities and voids in masonry;
• plate - in this form 60% of all insulation is produced - this is a very practical and convenient form of using thermal insulation;
• bitumen perlite roof insulation allows you to create a heat-insulating layer of any shape, therefore it is often used in buildings with unusual design(besides, it does not burn);
• dry building mixes with the addition of perlite are used as warm plaster and for filling cavities in masonry.

Vermiculite - properties and features

Vermiculite, which is natural material, in its original form is not used. Hydromica, which it essentially is, has quite high density and loosens easily. It contains about 35-40 silicon and impurities of some metals.

The production of expanded vermiculite is similar to the method for producing perlite: the mineral is heated to 700-1000 degrees. At the same time, water, evaporating, swells up the particles of the mineral, as a result of which it acquires a porous structure. The color of the insulation varies from yellow to silver.

The material is produced in the form of various fractions, differing from each other in grain size. Fine vermiculite is used as a filler for mortars. Larger grains are used as backfill. The material retains the shape of the scales, between which there is air that prevents the spread of sound and heat.

The thermal conductivity of vermiculite depends on the size of the granules (the larger the granules, the lower the thermal conductivity) and can range from 0.045 to 0.050 W/m*K.

Expanded vermiculite has the following advantages:

• high sound absorption allows it to be used as acoustic barriers;
• the high melting point of the material (1300 degrees) makes it heat resistant, so vermiculite is often used to insulate chimneys, pipes, fireplaces and stoves;
• the material is environmentally friendly;
• high fluidity (like perlite) makes it indispensable if it is necessary to isolate hard-to-reach cavities of building structures;
• biologically resistant - not attractive harmful insects and rodents;
• is hypoallergenic;
• has a neutral pH;
• during operation, it does not settle over time, which compares favorably with mineral wool and expanded clay;
• the low density of vermiculite (lower than that of perlite and expanded clay) allows it to be used for warming lightweight structures.

• just like perlite, vermiculite actively absorbs moisture. In this regard, it is also used in the cultivation of plants.
• has a very high cost, which is 3-4 times higher than the cost of perlite.

The latter circumstance limits the scope of the insulation. Although, some prudent builders have found a way to save on expensive insulation: vermiculite granules are mixed with sawdust in a ratio of 6:4 or 1:1. Being mixed with mineral particles, sawdust practically does not cake, and the moisture absorbed by them is quickly removed from the insulation layer, due to its vapor permeability. In this way, it is possible to obtain a heater with properties that practically do not differ from those of pure vermiculite, but at a lower price.

The use of vermiculite requires measures to be taken to ensure efficient removal moisture from the insulation layer.

Small fractions of insulation are widely used for the production of warm plasters and concrete mixes. Perlite-based concretes are categorized as light and warm mortars. Also, expanded vermiculite is added to masonry mixes, the use of which avoids the formation of cold bridges between the rows of masonry.

Vermiculite insulation is also produced in the form of boards used to insulate pipes, fireplaces and stoves. Plates are more expensive than bulk insulation.

Expanded vermiculite is used in construction for the following purposes:

• sloping roofs (it almost does not weigh down their construction);
• attic;
• attic and interfloor ceilings;
• floors and foundations;
• frame walls;
• brick walls (well masonry).

Comparison of perlite and vermiculite

The most obvious difference between these heaters is that they are made from different rocks, which is reflected in their properties and appearance.

Due to the high cost, vermiculite as a heater is used much less often than perlite. It is mainly used in the construction of special facilities. But as a filler for building mixtures, it is used quite widely.

When backfilling walls, vermiculite retains its volume and shape better, while perlite can settle over time.

Therefore, if vibrations can occur during the operation of the structure, it is better to use vermiculite.

Working with vermiculite is much easier - it does not produce dust, like perlite.

At the same time, the materials have similar characteristics in terms of environmental friendliness, biological stability, chemical neutrality, and hygroscopicity. Therefore, taking into account the cost, perlite is used much more widely, especially in cases where the volume of backfill or the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe structure to be insulated is large enough.

As for private construction, the issue is resolved taking into account the size of the budget and the appropriateness of using one or another material. If you want to definitely use vermiculite, and there is such an opportunity, then this will be the best option thermal insulation. If the budget is limited, then perlite will be a worthy option. Just do not forget about the protection of the eyes and respiratory organs, which may suffer when working with it.

Insulation vermiculite is a material that is widely used in construction and finishing works when erecting new buildings, carrying out capital and ongoing repairs of old buildings. It is used in the form of pressed boards, as a filler and as an additive in plaster mixes. It is used for, floors, attic space and ceilings. Insulation with vermiculite is carried out during construction pipeline systems and highways for various purposes which greatly extends their service life. This has a positive effect on the operation of equipment and pipeline fittings installed for the smooth functioning of the entire system.

Technological features

Vermiculite in the form of plates and in bulk.

The main advantages of the material include:

• fire resistance (1350 0 C);
• density (not higher than 150 kg / m3);
• low thermal conductivity (no more than 0.12 W / m * K);
• impact resistance aggressive environments, bacteria and does not form mold on the surface;
• hygroscopicity;
• the ability to absorb sound (sound absorption coefficient up to 0.8);
• environmental friendliness;
• service life (60 years).

Vermiculite insulation, user reviews of which are the most positive on the Internet, is a popular and affordable material. It is produced by manufacturers in granules of different fractions, as well as in the form of pressed plates of different thicknesses and overall dimensions. Depending on this, different technologies insulation, surface finishing and laying sound-absorbing barriers. Coarse fraction vermiculite serves as a filler in the manufacture of refractory concretes, and fine fraction as a filler.

Ways to insulate walls with vermiculite

View of a wall plastered with a mortar with the addition of vermiculite.

Vermiculite wall insulation is carried out in the process of erecting new buildings and objects of the old building, erected from different materials. Thermal insulation in bulk form can serve as a filler in the manufacture of heat-resistant concrete and is used for plastering surfaces. It is produced in different fractions (from 0.5 to 12 mm) and is sold in the distribution network in paper bags, most often weighing 25 kg.

Granular vermiculite can be poured into inter-wall voids. Pressed plates are fixed with special fasteners; they can be cut before installation. Plates can serve as good insulation when facing fireplaces, stoves, chimneys and pipes. Vermiculite for ceiling insulation additionally performs soundproofing functions in multi-storey buildings.

Vermiculite insulation, whose properties remain unchanged regardless of its type, is also used for plastering vertical surfaces. To do this, in certain proportions, it is added to concrete mixtures. You can make your own or buy ready-made ones. Comprehensive insulation of the house with vermiculite (walls, floors, attic) will save on heating bills.

Warming with vermiculite of the floor, attic

The technology of floor and attic insulation with vermiculite is the same. In this case, the thermal insulation is protected by special films. From the side of a warm room, a vapor barrier is laid, and from the side of the street or an unheated attic - waterproofing.

When performing thermal insulation with vermiculite, the presence of waterproofing and vapor barrier is mandatory. At the same time, it is extremely important to correctly place these protective layers.

Pitched roof insulation

When insulating the floor, waterproofing is placed under the vermiculite.

With such insulation, it is important to choose the right thickness of the poured vermiculite. It depends on temperature conditions and ranges from 10 to 20 cm. Insulation technology pitched roof next:

• a vapor barrier film is laid on the rafters;
• granular vermiculite is poured;
• it is covered with a layer of waterproofing and a counter-lattice is stuffed;
• the roof is spreading;
• performed inner lining any material.

Insulation vermiculite, whose properties are well studied, is modern material which has a wide range of applications. The feasibility of using vermiculite insulation is evidenced by reviews in more detail can be found in the following video:

Vermiculite in origin is a mica formed in earth's crust through volcanic activity. In nature, it occurs in the form of large pieces, however, after thermal treatment, it turns into a loose material, which is called vermiculite. It is used not only in construction, but also in economic activity. Its active use is due to many positive factors:

• environmental friendliness, safety, useful mineral composition, which is useful for plants;
• high sound insulation and heat insulation, it is non-toxic and resistant to high temperature, does not rot, does not form mold.

As a heater, vermiculite does not emit harmful gases (under the influence of high temperature), unlike, for example, mineral wool. Expanded vermiculite is used everywhere, capable of increasing in volume by 20 times, thereby expanding the adsorption surface. This important property of it is manifested at temperatures reaching 1000 degrees.

Where is vermiculite used?

If vermiculite and what it is is now clear, then its scope is quite extensive. Taking into account the fact that materials from this mineral are characterized by biostability, incombustibility, neutrality with respect to acids and alkalis, as well as strength and high thermal performance, it is not surprising that it has found application in about 200 areas.

How to use vermiculite is known in the field of shipbuilding and power engineering. It is used for the manufacture of non-combustible structures and vermiculite plates and shells. The remaining most popular areas in which there was a place for the use of vermiculite:

• metallurgy;
• chemical and paint industry (as a filler for thermal varnishes and acid-resistant liquid reagents);
• energy;
• automotive industry (to create brake pads);
• wood and paper industry;
• animal husbandry (as an ingredient in animal feed: its usefulness is due to experiments that have shown an increase in the level of hemoglobin in animals, protein, phosphate, calcium, red blood cell count, etc.);
• poultry farming (here the presence of vermiculite in the feed guarantees an increase in the fat mass of birds, egg production of chickens, iron levels, vitality and much more);
• agriculture (unique and rare sorption properties allow it to be a sorbent, fertilizer, ameliorant, radioprotector, mulch);
• production soft roof(plays the role of sprinkling the top layer in the production of roofing materials);
• production of electrodes;
• construction and much more.

Vermiculite: application in construction

The active use of vermiculite in this area is justified by the fact that it is the only material that can provide building structures with not only the highest fire protection, but also thermal insulation, decorative effect and sound insulation. In construction, it is used as follows:

• as fire protection for load-bearing steel metal structures;
• to create a warm floor;
• as bulk heat insulators, light concrete fillers;
• in the device of self-leveling floors;
• in the process of production of heat-resistant partitions;
• in plasters, various kinds of mixtures;
• It is used, due to its fire retardant properties, in the creation of intumescent fire retardant coatings, the most effective of which is the board, which has a lot of advantages.

Vermiculite in construction helps to solve several problems at the same time, namely:

• protect structures and buildings from fire,
• keep warm,
• isolate from extraneous sounds premises (both inside and outside) and this is far from the end of the list.

The scope of its use in the construction industry is quite wide, and there is no doubt that with the development of technology, it will find more and more applications.

Vermiculite and chimneys: insulation and the importance of its application

Represents essential part heating system. Not only the output of gas to the outside depends on it, but also fuel consumption, the quality of heating and the fire safety of the entire building. Chimney insulation with vermiculite has long been used. Thanks to this innovation, they began to have a number of advantages:

• the possibility of installing a chimney on any fuel: gas, liquid, solid;
• no need for a condensate collector;
• there is no obligatory condition consisting in the insulation of the chimney and the periodic renewal of the insulation;
• the manifestation of a smaller amount of soot, since most of it will be pushed out simultaneously with the outlet gas;
• simplified installation of the chimney, which will allow you to create it in just a few days.

In addition to all this, it is possible to ensure the insulation of chimneys, since a high temperature is maintained at the intersection of the chimney with the floor. In this regard, it is recommended to lay out vermiculite where the pipe comes into contact with building materials. This will help avoid smoke. And since vermiculite not only has low thermal conductivity, but also high fire resistance, along with the ability to hold temperature for a long time, then a layer of 10 cm will be enough.

Vermiculite is just an ideal material in terms of its properties. It has many useful, sometimes simply irreplaceable properties that help in many areas of construction, farming and other industries. It owes its popularity to the unique properties that other material is unlikely to boast of, and to its excellent physical, technical and operational characteristics.

Used for insulation of residential buildings, mineral wool in one form or another, expanded polystyrene, expanded clay are first of all remembered. Few people remember vermiculite, and many do not even know about its existence.

And absolutely in vain. Undeservedly on the sidelines, vermiculite is a heater of natural origin, in the production of which not only harmful, but also no chemical compounds are used. And, at the same time, its thermal insulation and operational qualities are not only comparable, but in some cases seriously surpass those of other widely used heaters. In a word, this material deserves to get to know it as closely as possible.

What is vermiculite and what are its main characteristics

Although vermiculite, as an insulating material, belongs to mineral, natural origin, its useful properties, surprisingly, were recognized not so long ago. How rock it was described only at the end of the 19th century, but it took almost a hundred years to characteristics of this mineral were put at the service of man.

In fact, natural vermiculite is a rock of a silicate class, a group of hydromica. It differs from ordinary mica by a high content of water bound in the crystal lattice and a low level of bonds between the layers of the material. Thus, the total molecule of the original, natural vermiculite includes four water molecules “attached” to it.

In its normal state, this is a fairly hard rock, with a high density, reaching up to 2400÷2700 kg/m³, not amenable to abrasion, but easily stratified into plates. Its melting point is about 1350 °C. But an interesting feature of the mineral was noticed and used - if it is not brought to melting, but heated to temperatures of the order of 900 ÷ 1000 ° C, then the material completely changes its crystal structure. Thin plates swell - increase in size by 15 ÷ 25 times and turn into porous columns of a worm-like appearance or even thin threads, with a pronounced golden or silver tint. Apparently, this is where the accepted name of the mineral came from - vermiculite, from the Latin "vermiculus", which literally means "worm".

The result is expanded vermiculite - exactly the material that is subsequently widely used in various sectors of construction, industry and Agriculture. The air-filled structure has a very low density - it is much lighter than water, and its specific gravity becomes only 60 to 130 kg / m³.

At present, the production of expanded vermiculite has been put on an industrial basis. In our country there are rich deposits of the necessary mica rocks - in the Murmansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk regions, in the Krasnodar and Primorsky regions.

The production cycle consists of several stages. These are sorting of raw materials, enrichment (removal of ballast impurities), crushing into a fine fraction and roasting. The firing process takes a few minutes - and then the expanded columns go through the stage of crushing to the desired fraction, followed by sorting, packaging and shipment to consumers.

Vermiculite produced at enterprises must comply with certain standards introduced by GOST 12865-67. So, it is divided into:

- large - grains ranging in size from 5 to 10 mm;

- medium - from 0.6 to 5 mm.

- fine - grains up to 0.5 mm.

Usually, material is supplied to consumers in three different grades - 200, 150 and 100, in which the numbers indicate the upper limit of the bulk density of the material (kg / m³). The density itself and, accordingly, the insulating qualities of vermiculite depend on the size of the fraction. For example, without going beyond the scope of GOST, manufacturing plants offer material with the following parameters:

Vermiculite is now widely used in construction, as it has a number of advantages:

• The low coefficient of thermal conductivity allows the use of vermiculite as an effective thermal insulator for building structures. According to these indicators, the material is quite comparable with others, for example, with mineral wool or expanded polystyrene, but significantly surpasses them in other characteristics.
• The operating temperature range is extremely wide. So, both vermiculite itself and many structural materials based on it are able to withstand freezing below -200 °C and heating up to 900 ÷ 1000 °C. The material itself is absolutely non-combustible and does not contain any additives that can contribute to combustion or the spread of fire. When heated, vermiculite does not emit any gases hazardous to the human respiratory system. These qualities are used to create effective fire barriers or protect the metal structures of buildings and structures.

• The pronounced granular and at the same time - layered structure of vermiculite becomes an excellent soundproof barrier. Both airborne and impact noises are attenuated in the thickness of the material, and a building structure (wall or ceiling), insulated with vermiculite or made on its basis, will not be a transmission "membrane" that spreads further sound waves. The sound absorption coefficient at a frequency of 1 kHz reaches from 0.56 (for a material with a minimum fraction of 0.5 mm) to 0.7 ÷ 0.8 (with a fraction of 4 ÷ 8 mm).
• Despite the layered and seemingly unstable structure, vermiculite grains are highly durable. So, if we compare it with another expanded material - perlite sand, then vermiculite is not afraid of transportation, vibration, it does not shrink, it does not break into small fractions, it does not dust.
• The material is chemically resistant and completely inert - without any loss of its qualities it is able to withstand the effects of all known acids, alkalis, organic solvents or other technical fluids used in construction.
• A very special property of the material is its pronounced adsorbing capacity and the highest moisture absorption. So, vermiculite is able to absorb a volume of water that is five times its own weight by weight. This, of course, can be attributed to the shortcomings of the material. However, vermiculite just as easily releases moisture into the atmosphere without losing its qualities at all.

By the way, the adsorbing qualities of vermiculite are actively used for filtration systems, for cleaning soil and water from oil stains, and for other similar purposes.

It can be considered an advantage that condensate drops never form on the vermiculite insulation layer - water is absorbed into the porous structure, and when conditions normalize, moisture evaporates freely. Thus, the material contributes to maintaining the optimal temperature and humidity balance in the premises. However, this feature of the material should be taken into account when planning the insulation of building structures.

• The material is characterized by the highest biological stability. Despite the porous structure and pronounced water absorption, it never decomposes, it does not go through the processes of decay or debate. Vermiculite does not become a breeding ground for any forms of life - no mold foci appear in it, insects do not start nests, rodents bypass it.
• The material does not cause allergic reactions even in people prone to such manifestations. Studies show that vermiculite is even able to reflect a certain part of the spectrum of radioactive radiation.
• The material is not subject to "aging" - over time, it does not lose its specific qualities at all, neither under the influence of moisture, nor under the influence of extremely low or high temperatures.
• Finally, the expanded vermiculite itself has excellent flowability. When filling them with cavities in building structures, it is able to completely fill the entire volume, leaving no air voids.

Only two positions can be attributed to the conditional disadvantages of the material:

• The already mentioned high hygroscopicity of the material. When using vermiculite in loose form it is necessary to provide reliable waterproofing and the possibility of free evaporation of moisture. This is achieved by proper placement of vapor barrier and vapor permeable diffuse membranes.
• Relatively high cost of the material. So, the price of vermiculite is several times higher than other bulk mineral heaters- expanded clay or perlite sand. The cost of one cubic meter of material can reach 6.5 ÷ 7 thousand rubles. This, of course, somewhat limits its widespread use for thermal insulation of private houses. True, the advantages and durability of vermiculite fully justify such costs.

The use of vermiculite for thermal insulation work

Vermiculite can be used in several ways to provide the necessary thermal insulation characteristics of the building:

• In loose form - to fill the cavities of insulated structures.
• As part of special building solutions.
• in the form of ready-made building elements(plates) made of composite materials based on vermiculite.

The use of vermiculite in the form of backfills

One of the popular methods of using vermiculite is filling the cavities of insulated structures.

A. Roof structure insulation

The figure shows an approximate diagram of the insulation of a pitched roof, for example,

1 - rafter legs.

2 - layer vapor barrier film, which does not allow moisture from the premises to penetrate into the insulation layer.

3 – inner lining slopes and attic ceiling.

4 - frame structure - crate for further roofing.

5 - dry vermiculite is poured into the formed cavities.

6 - a wind protection is laid on top of the insulation - a diffuse membrane that prevents loose vermiculite from weathering and direct water ingress on it, but does not prevent the free evaporation of moisture.

7 - then, a counter-lattice is installed on top of the membrane, the roofing material is laid.

b. Floor insulation

The scheme of insulation of floors, in principle, is similar.

On the hemmed "rough" ceiling between the floor beams, a reliable waterproofing material, with the obligatory overlap of the canvases and sealing of the joints.. A lathing system (lag) is mounted for the subsequent flooring of the attic floor.

Then, the formed cavities are covered with dry vermiculite. Usually a layer of 100 ÷ 150 mm is sufficient for this.

Vermiculite prices

insulation SVT Vermiculite VVF

A diffuse membrane is attached on top of the beams and logs, and then (if necessary) a plank or plywood floor covering is laid.

When ensuring ventilation of the attic (mansard), moisture will not accumulate in such an insulating layer - it will have a free exit to evaporation into the atmosphere.

Since vermiculite is sufficient expensive material, some owners use its mixture with sawdust. Usually use proportions or 1:1, or 3:2. Interestingly, when mixed with vermiculite, sawdust "takes over" its resistance to biological decomposition - the processes of caking and decay will not be noted in them. Such a dry mixture can be prepared using the usual construction mixer or a drill attachment.

V. Insulation of hollow walls

When building walls using the “well masonry” technology, it is fashionable to fill the space between the bricks with dry vermiculite. A similar approach can be applied to insulation

Backfilling is carried out in stages, as the bearing wall and the facing layer (cladding) are erected. frame structure), with light tamping of the material.

Another option for creating "warm walls" is to fill the voids of building blocks. The thermal insulation effect of such a design increases dramatically, and the sound absorption of the wall increases.

At the same time, the wall remains "breathing" - free steam exchange in it is not disturbed.

d. Thermal insulation of chimney pipes

An important point when installing a stove or boiler is always the thermal insulation of the passages of the chimney pipes through walls and ceilings. And this problem can be solved very effectively with the use of vermiculite.

One option is to install a metal box in the passageway. The resulting cavity between the pipe and the ceiling is filled with dry vermiculite - and the thermal insulation of the chimney will be provided.

Another option is to use lead-through sleeves, which are also filled with vermiculite inside.

The use of vermiculite as a component for building and finishing mortars

Insulation of vermiculites in the form of dry filling is a highly effective, but still very expensive solution. Therefore, in the practice of private construction, this material is more often used for the preparation of mortars - this way you can significantly improve their thermal insulation characteristics.

A. Preparation of screed solutions

If the floor is supposed to be poured with a screed, and at the same time it requires additional thermal insulation, it makes sense to use a concrete solution for this purpose with the inclusion of a significant proportion of vermiculite in it.

For the preparation of such compositions, standard Portland cement M400, sand and vermiculite with bulk density from 80 to 150 kg/m³, fraction from 0.5 to 5 mm. As a result, such a fill will be distinguished by a small overall massiveness and pronounced thermal and sound insulation qualities.

There are several tested proportions for the preparation of such solutions. They are selected depending on the required strength and insulation qualities of the coatings being created. The proportions and basic solutions for screeds are presented in the table:

Due to the fact that vermiculite has a high hygroscopicity, the solution is prepared directly at the place of its application, and must be used up within 30 minutes from the moment it is mixed with water.

Usually for reliable insulation ceilings over an unheated room (basement, basement) 100 mm screed is enough. For floors a 30 mm layer will suffice.

When using such a composition, it must be remembered that in solutions with a cement mass fraction of less than 450 kg / m³, the poured coating will not have frost resistance - it will withstand no more than 5 ÷ 7 cycles. So such screeds are recommended only for indoor heated rooms.

b. Preparation of masonry mortars

When laying walls, it will be optimal to use materials with increased thermal insulation characteristics - gas silicate blocks, hollow bricks, etc. But the seams still remain a vulnerable area - if the thermal conductivity of the masonry mortar is higher than that of the wall material itself, powerful “cold bridges” form in these places, which drastically reduces the thermal performance of the entire structure as a whole.

The way out is to select solutions in such a way that their thermal conductivity is comparable to that of blocks (bricks). And in this case, again, vermiculite can come to the rescue.

Proportional composition masonry mortars is basically the same as shown in the table above. So choosing wall material, it is necessary to compare its thermal conductivity with similar parameters of solutions, and choose the closest one in terms of this value. To make it easier, below is a table that shows the thermal conductivity of the materials most commonly used for masonry walls.

Comparing the data of the two tables, it will be easy to decide on optimal composition masonry mortar.

V. Production of "warm plasters"

A very effective method of significantly improving the thermal insulation qualities of walls is the use of so-called, made on the basis of vermiculite.

Such wall coverings have a lot of advantages. First of all, specific gravity of the plaster layer itself - several times lower than that of traditional compositions. Thermal resistance indicators, on the contrary, are significantly superior. So, for comparison, a layer of only 25 mm will be similar in terms of thermal characteristics to 100 - 150 mm of conventional cement-sand plaster.

The use of "warm plasters" allows you to reduce the thickness of the erected brick wall by about a quarter, without any loss of thermal insulation qualities.

In addition, the soundproofing qualities of the wall structure immediately increase significantly. For conventional plasters, the sound absorption coefficient is in the range from 0.015 to 0.02, that is, they practically do not resist the spread of noise. In "warm" this indicator is incomparably higher - from 0.2 to 0.65.

For the same compositions that were discussed in the first table can be used. However, there are also lighter solutions that do not use sand at all. The components are only cement M400 and vermiculite with a fraction of 0.5 to 2 mm.

All these plasters are quite applicable for outdoor work on almost any wall surface - their adhesion indicators are very good. The frost resistance of such coatings is estimated at about 25 cycles.

If you plan to finish walls or even ceilings with “warm plasters” from inside the premises, then you can use modified solutions. Under such operating conditions, high strength indicators are no longer so important, and direct exposure to water on plastered walls is not expected. But on the other hand, evenness of the coating will certainly come to the first positions, for which it is advisable to introduce plasticizing components into the composition of the plaster. In order not to disturb the natural mineral structure of the mixture, lime or purified fine clay can be used as additives that increase plasticity and improve the rubability of the finished surface. The "recipes" of such plasters are given in the table below ("C" - cement, "I" - lime, "G" - clay, "V" - vermiculite):

Both external and internal plasters with vermiculite have high vapor permeability, which contributes to the normal self-regulation of temperature and humidity conditions.

"Warm plasters" subject to certain rules their preparations have another remarkable property - the natural golden or silvery sheen of vermiculite creates a very interesting decorative effect when finishing facades. It will be especially noticeable in the play of sunlight.

To give plasters, either colored cements are used, or mineral pigments are used with white cement, for example, minium, ocher, umber and other compounds. The amount of pigment is chosen from 5 to 25% of total mass white cement. At minimum flow soft pastel colors of the facades are obtained. With an increase in the pigment content to 15 - 25%, the facade will receive a bright, saturated color.

Approximate recipes for home-made decorative "warm plasters" are given in the table:

You can also buy ready-made dry building mix- plaster with vermiculite filling. It is prepared immediately before use according to the manufacturer's instructions and applied in accordance with the instructions attached to it. technological recommendations. Two compositions can be cited as an example - "TEPLOVER standard" "VERMIX":

Name of parameters	"HEATLOVER STANDARD"	VERMIX
Illustration
The shelf life of the mortar mixture	up to 4 hours	Up to 2 hours
Dry thermal conductivity coefficient, W/m×°C	0.08	0.12÷0.13
Vapor permeability, mg/m×hour×Pa	0.09	0.21
Tensile strength, MPa
- detached from the base	0,44	0.6
- for compression	2,19	2.3
Time to reach normative values strength	28 days	28 days
Frost resistance	F50	for interior work
Brand of the mixture by mobility	PC8	PC3
Permissible thickness of the plaster layer, mm
- minimum	10	-
- maximum	100	50
Factory packaging	Paper bag 25 l. (9 kg)	Paper bag 25 or 50 l. (9 or 17 kg)
Dry mix consumption	1 pack per 1 m² with a plaster layer thickness of 25 mm	9 kg per 1 m² with a plaster layer thickness of 25 mm

And as good example- video presentation of another type of "warm plaster" based on vermiculite:

Video: advantages of warm plaster "ThermoVer"

Finished slabs based on vermiculite

Another area of ​​application of vermiculite in construction is the use of finished slabs made on its basis.

In addition to all the advantages of the material already mentioned, these plates also have extremely high heat resistance, which predetermines the area of ​​​​their use. So, they are usually used:

• For reliable fire protection of walls and ceilings, wooden and metal structures of the building, utilities.
• For thermal insulation of external surfaces of stoves and fireplaces.
• To create fire-protected premises and evacuation routes in public buildings which are characterized by large crowds of people.
• For thermal insulation industrial premises and equipment
• They can be used in combination with other materials for finishing walls and ceilings - to ensure the required level of fire safety of certain premises.

The form of production of such plates can be different - thickness from 15 to 120 mm, length and width are usually 600 × 600 mm or 1200 × 600 mm. However, manufacturers can offer other sizes on request.

The main characteristics of vermiculite boards are given in the table:

Of course, to use such plates as building material for the construction of walls and partitions - an extremely expensive “pleasure”, but if it is necessary to achieve pronounced fire-fighting qualities in any room or on any structure, then you can’t imagine anything better than vermiculite boards. The use of asbestos-containing materials for such purposes in residential and public buildings is highly undesirable, but vermiculite, due to its environmental friendliness, has no restrictions on its use.

Video: visual instructions for the installation of vermiculite plates