Perlite Italiana

PERLIDECK® is an expanded perlite with a fine grain size of between 0.‎15 and 1 mm for the production of thermal insulating lightweight concrete.‎ Expanded perlite is a light inorganic inert material of natural origin obtained from the expansion, at high temperature, of a specific variety of effusive volcanic rock.‎ The entire production process is characterised by the absence of VOC emissions, fibres, radon, toxic gases or dangerous particles: expanded perlite is an ecologically oriented product for the development of healthy and environmentally friendly building.‎ PERLIDECK® expanded perlite, consistent with the criteria of Bio-ecological Architecture identified by ANAB (National Association for Bio-ecological Architecture) has been certified since 2002 and marked with the quality mark promoted by ICEA (Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification).‎ Sterile and non-combustible by nature, expanded perlite is characterised by a porous microcellular structure, which gives it excellent performance as a thermal insulator.‎ PERLIDECK® CONGLOMERATES PERLIDECK® is a patented casting technique that provides lightened mixes of homogeneous and controlled quality, produced directly in production centres with the traditional techniques used for making concrete.‎ The choice of different component dosages makes it possible to favour thermal or mechanical performance in the subgrade.‎ The mix can easily be kept under quality control, allowing homogeneous and consistent mixtures.‎ PERLIDECK® does not require the addition of sand; the fluidity and pastiness of the conglomerates obtained allow for the formation of regular, smooth, consistent surfaces without shrinkage cracks.‎ PERLIDECK® is not suitable for the direct application of bonded floors, which must be laid on suitable (finishing) screeds.‎ The production of the mix and the conveying and distribution techniques are carried out with concrete mixers and truck mixers and ensure high productivity.‎ Different mixing, transfer and forwarding techniques at height make it possible to guarantee solutions adapted to the specific nature of individual sites.‎ The PERLIDECK® expanded perlite-based foundation is: lightweight heat-insulating monolithic non-combustible dimensionally stable unalterable over time environmentally friendly easy to work FORMULATION AND FEATURES The production of PERLIDECK® lightweight mixes requires 1 m3 of expanded perlite for every m3 of finished product.‎ When mixing, depending on the need to favour the insulating performance of the substrate or mechanical resistance, the dosages of Portland cement type 32.‎5 or 42.‎5, vary from 200 to 300 kg/m3, and those of the Perliflu® additive from 0.‎5 to 1.‎0 litre/m3.‎ The quantity of water, which varies depending on how it is used and the fluidity required of the mix, can be between 300 and 500 litres/m3.‎ The mix, which is preferably creamy for sloping applications and self-levelling for flat slabs, is prepared in truck mixers, transported by truck mixer pumps for pumping on site and easily spread with trowels or trowels.‎ PERLIDECK® APPLICATIONS PERLIDECK® expanded perlite is supplied in big bags or in tanker trucks, depending on the equipment in the Production Centres and storage systems.‎ PERLIDECK® concretes are produced in the territorial Production Centres and then transferred to the construction site by truck mixers and truck mixer pumps.‎ This technique, which can be used in conditions that allow the access of concrete mixers to the building site, allows high productivity in the presence of medium-high surfaces, but can also be used for works of limited volume.‎ Truck mixers and truck mixer pumps can normally be used for building sites up to 30-40 km from the Territorial Production Centre; works of this type can also be carried out beyond these distances in consideration of the slow setting of PERLIDECK® concretes: in these cases, however, the fluidity of the product must be carefully checked on site.‎ Depending on the logistical conditions of the building site, the characteristics of the building and the extent of the surfaces to be treated, forwarding and distribution at height can be carried out by pumping or using buckets.‎ The pumped forwarding technique can operate independently of the presence of fixed site structures and: - facilitates the distribution of the mix over large areas - simplifies the laying of the mix over small areas divided into different locations - allows difficult-to-access poured areas to be served - limits the time that the truck mixer has to spend on site to a few tens of minutes per load The bucket forwarding technique allows a slightly lower productivity than pumping and is adopted when the organisation of the site makes it impossible to use other equipment (e.‎g.‎ excessive length of the pumping pipe).‎ In this case, the availability of lifting equipment on the site is indispensable.‎ In order to optimise casting operations, a number of complementary operations are necessary: - creation of posts or reference bands for easy creation of the desired thicknesses and any slopes - preparation of casting restrictors at structural joints - accurate cleaning of the laying surface for better adhesion of the PERLIDECK® to the substrate - protection of steel pipes, to be embedded in the screed, with compact cement paste or with suitable waterproof and continuous tiles or sheaths.‎ Plastic pipes must also be adequately fixed and protected - levelling the thickness of the mix using an American rule or other similar tools - levelling with shingles or trowels - separating the subgrade slab from the lightened screed using waterproof sheets with sealed joints turned up at the edges to control rising damp and allow the overlying slab to cure properly PERLIDECK® concretes do not require additional smoothing.‎