"STAR-PUMI" is the trade name for a naturally occurring structural lightweight aggregate mined by STAR-LTD Lightweight Pumice, Inc. "STAR-PUMI" is produced at our state-of-the-art vacuum processing plant for pumice aggregate located in Cappadocia, NEVSEHIR and is processed and distributed exclusively by STAR-LTD Lightweight Pumice.
Unfortunately, the general name, "Pumice" is applied to a variety of material, of different purity and differing chemical makeup. This particular deposit, by the workings of nature over a period of time, is of a uniformity and purity almost unmatched elsewhere in the world.
"STAR-PUMI" is a strong, durable, porous glass Pumice aggregate of volcanic NEVSEHIR origin. An ideal Natural material for use in structural lightweight concrete. With the continuing increase in energy costs, the use of a natural aggregate marks a return to the economic principles associated with the use of lightweight concrete, pumice was used in ancient Rome over 2,000 years ago in the construction of the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and the immense vaults of the public baths and many other notable structures still standing today.(YOU CAN SEE PICTURE ROMAN MUSEUM IN THE DOWN)
Istanbul Sapphire Tower is tallest building in Istanbul, was built using lightweight concrete.Over one million cubic yards of Lightweight Pumice concrete has been placed successfully in Istanbul Sapphire high-rise construction that was vacuum saturated by the LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE vacuum processing system.
TALLEST BUILDING IN ISTANBUL USED LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE ON THIS BUILDING
| Pumice has many very desirable properties when used as lightweight aggregate in concrete: |
- Chemically inert [pH approx 7.0, alkali-aggregate reaction classification is non-reactive]
- Low-density raw material [600-800 kg/cubic metre dry] and product, saving transport costs and making product easier to lay by block layers.
- Excellent compressive strength to weight ratio [up to 27MPa for 1750 kg/m3 concrete]
- Excellent concrete texture, reduced block forming time [at one TR manufacturer, reduced from 9 seconds/cycle to 7 seconds/cycle, giving significant productivity gains in block manufacture] an added benefit is much longer life for mold liners, compared to harsh aggregates like scoria.
- Superior water absorption/desorption characteristics. Moisture held in the interior of the pumice aggregate is not immediately available for chemical interaction with cement, but is extremely beneficial in maintaining longer periods of curing, giving better strength and reduced permeability in the final concrete [ASTM technical publication 169C]
- Excellent sound absorption for a given wall thickness and wall mass/m2
- Low thermal conductivity and non-flammable, giving increased fire resistance ratings [FRL's in GERMANY] to masonry walls. Pumice itself has an R value of 14 m2 oC/W, sand and gravel conventional concrete of 2200 kg/m3 has an R value of approx 0.55, lightweight structural pumice concrete of 1440 kg/m3 has an R value of approx 2.3 [Masonry Institute of ISTANBUL, TR Standards publications]
- More attractive, whiter coloured blocks
- Able to totally replace conventional sands and aggregates in masonry formulations with a combination of pumice sands and larger pumice aggregates. |
| In addition to all these benefits, pumice is also: |
- Easy to use in blends to obtain different concrete properties
- Pure and non-toxic, so exposure to pumice has no health implications, no special storage and handling is required.
- - Environmentally friendly, with low energy extraction/preparation, lower transport costs than higher density aggregates, no degradation into soluble or volatile components with time.
- A PUMICE, i.e. it has properties when in fine particle form, where the silicon and aluminium oxides in pumice react with lime and water to form rock hard non porous material. These types of reactions are also the basis for curing of Portland cement, and were used by the Romans in the construction of most of the ruins that still exist today.
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| And pumice based concrete masonry is: |
Freeze/thaw resistant
- Nailable and sawable if suitably formulated
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THIS MUSEUM IS IN ISTANBUL,BUILT BY ROMAN EMPIRE IN 537,THEY HAVE USED ALSO PUMICE TO BUILD
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