Searching usage of the expanded clay aggregate in light concrete

The clays that form a mass full of gas bubbles when heated is named expanded clay is one of the light building materials, which has the highest compressive strength. The granules that are formed by baking the expanded clays at 1100- 13000 C are the porous ceramic products and they include cells in forms of homogenous, closed and small cavities. It is much more lighter than prepared from using the natural aggregates, having less death load and it is obtained light concrete which is high heat insulation thanks to formed the free pores by the sintered aggregate. In this study, it is determined that the expanded clay where is taken in Ankara- Kalecik place is produced after at 900-11500 C the heating process. Producing with these aggregates obtained in light concrete is compared with reference concrete which is obtained from crush aggregates. Water absorption, unit weight of fresh concrete and compressive strength at 3, 7 and 28 days of light and crush aggregates were compared. Water absorption of expanded clay aggregates is more than %10. Fresh unit of light concrete is less than %24. According to reference concrete, compressive strength of light concrete samples at 3, 7 and 28 days are less than %24, %22 and %18, respectively. Key Words : Expanded clay, concrete, light weight concrete