AUTOCLAVED AERATED

CONCRETE BLOCKS
By Sunkuru Saideep
 ABOUT THE AAC MATERIAL
• This Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) material was first
developed in Sweden .
• AAC is produced from the common materials like lime, sand, cement,
and water, and a small amount of rising agent .
• AAC has excellent thermal insulation and acoustic absorption
properties.
• AAC is fire and pest resistant, and is economically and
environmentally superior than the traditional red bricks or the building
material like wood or stone.
 CONSTITUENTS OF AAC BLOCK
• AAC block is made of Portland Cement, Fine Aggregates(fly ash or
sand), water and an expansion agent.
• These bricks/blocks are made from autoclaving process which results
in the production of air voids in the material, making it less dense, easy
to cut/mould and makes it a better insulator than the rest of the bricks.
• The air content present inside these block form upto 60%-85% of the
volume of the block.
 REDUCED DEAD LOAD
• Since the blocks contain about 75% of air so the density of these types
of blocks are less.
• Due to the less density of these blocks the dead of the structure
becomes less as compare to the traditional bricks.
• About 55% reduction of the weight of the walls can be obtained when
compared to that of walls made of clay bricks.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
• Since the AAC blocks uses fly ash (70% of its weight) thus provides the
most constructive solution to the nation’s fly ash utilization problem.
 ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES
• The Autoclaved Aerated
Concrete material it self has
excellent acoustic
performance and can be
used as a sound barrier(AAC
wall panel).
• The small air pockets that are
generated during the
manufacturing process of AIR POCKETS
these block help to prevent
sound travel through the
material
 FIRE RESISTANCE
• The important safety factor of any building is fire safety and therefore
the walls should be resistant to fire.
• The AAC blocks are very good at resisting fire since these have
relatively homogenous structure.
• Unlike the concrete where the presence of coarse aggregate leads to
deferential rates of expansion, cracking and disintegration.
 OTHER PROPERTIES
• Since these blocks are very porous , these
leads to more diffusion of water and so
keeping the rooms cooler and decreasing the
humidity eventually.
• These have very low specific conductivity. This
makes heating or cooling(air conditioning)
very efficient.
• Due to these properties supplementary PIC SHOWING NO UNEVEN EDGES AND
insulation can be avoided. ACCURATE DIMENSIONS OBTAINED IN AAC

• The accurate manufacturing process ensures

that Autoclaved Aerated Concrete panels
and blocks are always produced to as they
leave the factory.
• This results in less on site trimming and reduces
the quantity of mortar and finishing materials.
 OTHER PROPERTIES
• The cutting of these blocks (that is for different
types of closers) are made more easier as
compared to the traditional bricks, this is due to
the porosity of these blocks.
• The low weight of the AAC blocks helps in the
easy loading and unloading of these items in the
construction site.
EASY CUTTING FOR DIFFERENT
• Besides this also helps the mason as he can easily CLOSERS
lift and place the blocks.
• AAC does not deteriorate over time and they
retain good finishes even after many years.
• They have better resistance against alternate
cycles of heating and cooling.
 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• Can carry load up to 8Mpa approximately 50% of the compressive
strength of regular concrete.
• Influenced by factors such as density, age, curing method,
component and mix proportion.
• The rate of strength development is vey high and decreases with age.
 COMPARISON BETWEEN AAC
BLOCKS AND CLAY BRICKS
• The fly ash is an industrial waste product and its use in AAC block production
process takes care as the issues concerned with its disposal whereas brick
industry consumes our natural top soil.
• The AAC blocks are dimensionally more accurate as it is produced with wire
cut technology in a certified factory.
• AAC blocks have air voids and hence have better fire resisting properties
compared to the red clay bricks.
• Using the AAC blocks the dead load on the foundation is reduced.
• AAC blocks do not have any “micro pores” or any continuous “capillaries”
through which exterior surface water can be absorbed to interiors. It means
longer life to the paints and interior free from fungus, hence a long lasting
interior.
 PIC SHOWING WATER ABSORBED BY AAC
AND HOMOGENOUS PROPERTY

PIC SHOWING WATER ABSORBED BY TRADITIONAL

BRICKS AND THE NON HOMOGENOUS PROPERTY
 AAC BLOCKS IN INDIA
• Since due to less awareness the manufacturing plants in India are
limited to about 30-40 plants, mainly concentrated near Surat,
Gujarat.
• Besides there are a number of small scale manufacturers near coal
fields
 DISADVANTAGES
• Since this is new in India most of the contractors may not know how to
use these blocks, and mason must adjust to using thin set of mortar as
opposed to the traditional cement based mortar.
• The major disadvantage of AAC blocks is availability. Since the
projects are situated far from manufacturing facilities the
transportation cost increases.
 CONCLUSION
• Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Blocks is different from conventional
concrete in the mix materials and properties.
• Though the compressive strength of these blocks are less than that of
concrete , AAC blocks possess many beneficial factors such as lower
density, enhanced thermal and sound insulation and reduced dead loads.
• Hence it is an ideal alternative for traditional wall brick or stone materials
owing to its environmental impact and eco-friendly features.