Transparent Concrete

I focus on transparent concrete /cement all the time. Recently, several kinds of transparent concrete are presented. All of them are pre-fabricated . There is no more information with regard to availability for cast. And it is still not clear the resistant force of the new bonding material comparing with the pure concrete. Most of them are being non-load bearing materials in practice. I am quite interested in what the most transparent they can be manufactured to be. Can it approach very nearly transparent glass?

Plastic Resin Matrix + Cementitious Materials

Manufacturer: Italcementi

Project: Italy Pavilion, Shanghai, Expo,2010

"A new type of cement has been set up which, by bonding special resins into a newly conceived mix, allows manufacturing solid insulated yet light-transmitting construction panels. The newi.light® "transparent cement", used to build the Italian Pavilion for the World Expo 2010 opening in Shanghai on May 1, was presented today at the Triennale Museum in Milan."

"The new product developed at the Bergamo-based laboratories ensures transparency through an innovative cement / admixtures mix design. The excellent flow properties of the mix allow bonding a plastic resin matrix into a final panel that combines the typical robustness of cementitious materials and the possibility of filtering light both inwards and outwards. This is the first solution for an industrial application of “transparent cement”: «The resins – explain the researchers – if adequately inserted in the cementitious material, have higher transparency performance than the optical fibres experimentally used in this field, but also cost much less allowing for their application on a large scale»."

http://www.italcementigroup.com/ENG/Media+and+Communication/News/Corporate+events/20100322.htm

Optical Fibres + Concrete (Litracon)

Manufacturer: Litracon

"World’s first commercially available transparent concrete Litracon® is a combination of optical fibres and fine concrete. It can be produced as prefabricated building blocks. Due to the small size of the fibres, they blend into concrete becoming a component of the material like small pieces of aggregate. In this manner, the result is not only two materials - glass in concrete - mixed, but a third, new material, which is homogeneous in its inner structure and on its main surfaces as well. Litracon® is a fully handmade product which results an exceptional and individual pattern of light in each piece.

The patent protected Litracon® products present the phenomenon of light transmitting concrete in the form of widely applicable new building materials. They have been developed by Hungarian architect Áron Losonczi since 2001."

TECHNICAL DATA

Form:
prefabricated blocks
Ingredients:
96% concrete
4% optical fibre
Density:
2100-2400 kg/m³
Compressive strength:
50 N/mm²
Bending tensile strength:
7 N/mm²
Finish:
polished

BLOCK SIZES

Maximum block size:
1200 x 400 mm
Thickness:
25-500mm

http://www.litracon.hu/product.php?id=7

Specially Formed + Patented Plastic Unit (Litracon pXL)

Manufacturer: Litracon

"Contrary to Litracon®, in Litracon pXL® there are no optical fibers for light transmission but a specially formed and patented plastic unit. This and the industrialized way of manufacturing bring the new pXL® material into a more affordable price range.
The panels are reinforced and can even be storey-high that makes installation easier. The light dots appear with regular distribution on the surface of the pXL® panels just like pixels on an LCD screen. Besides, it is easy to create patterns or even coloured logos out of the pixels. It is also possible to create not only plain panels but 3D objects e.g. folded or curved forms, hollow bodies with the Litracon pXL® technology. Among many others, this option can give ideas to design e.g. public statues or illuminated street furniture.

The patent protected Litracon pXL® products present the phenomenon of light transmitting concrete in the form of widely applicable new building materials. They have been developed by Hungarian architect Áron Losonczi since 2001."

TECHNICAL DATA

Form:
prefabricated panels with reinforcement
Ingredients:
96% concrete
4% PMMA
Density:
2100-2400 kg/m³
Finish:
polished, molded, washed

PANEL SIZES

Available thicknesses:
40mm and 60mm

Maximum panel size with 40mm thickness:
1200 x 600mm

Maximum panel size with 60mm thickness:
3600 x 1200mm

http://www.litracon.hu/product.php?id=9