Ytong

Ytong - Autoclaved Aerated concrete (AAC)

Invented in the mid 1920s, it is a lightweight, precast building material and provides structure, insulation, fire and mold resistance in a single material. AAC products include blocks, wall panels, floor and roof panels, and lintels.

It is a high thermally insulating concrete-based material used for construction both internally and externally. Besides insulating capability, one of AAC's advantages in construction is its quick and easy installation since the material can be routed, sanded and cut to size on site using standard carbon steel band saws, hand saws and drills.

Quartz sand, lime and/or cement is mixed with sand inside a form. The Aluminium powder added reacts with calcium hydroxide and water to form hydrogen, hydrogen foams and the volume of the raw mix doubles.

After the form is removed, the material is still soft, its either cut into blocks or panels. Then it is placed in an autoclave chamber for 12 hours at 190° Celsius. Quartz sand reacts with calcium hydroxide to form calcium silica hydrate, which makes up the Ytong's high strength and other unique properties.