World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

S. Sharmila* and L. Vijayan

ABSTRACT

Vermiculite is the name used in commerce for a group of micaceous minerals that expand or exfoliate many times the original thickness when heated. Its chemical composition varies widely consisting of a complex hydrated aluminium, magnesium silicate and hence the analysis of the mineral is of little use in determining the vermiculite for commercial utility. Providing thermal insulation for the building is oneof the developing areas in the field of Civil Engineering. Due to the increase of global warming the room temperature is increased. Vermiculite, a mineral of natural occurrence of the group of hydro micas, when heated to above 300?C, expands to become a highly efficient heat-insulating material. In order to reduce the temperature, we are using vermiplast in plastering. For structural application of thermo proof concrete, the density is often more important than the strength. A decreased density for the same strength level reduces the self-weight and construction cost. Structural lightweight aggregate concrete generally used to reduce dead weight of structure as well as to reduce the risk of damage due to high temperature to a structure because the blast load. In this study, structural thermo proof aggregate concrete was designed with the use of natural vermiculite aggregate that will provide an advantage of reducing dead weight of structure and to obtain a more economical structural light weight and heat resistant concrete by the use of vermiculite power as a partial replacement of fine aggregate.

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