How to Make Aircrete - Part 1

Follow these videos to find out what aircrete is, what it is usually used for and how to make it yourself. Using a homemade foam generator, we make some aircrete samples and show how they turned out after curing.
Aircrete is lightweight concrete that is made with suds or dense foam (with a shaving cream-like consistency) added to a cement mortar mix. The dense foam is the aggregate in this mixture instead of sand or gravel for example. Aircrete, or foam concrete, is mainly used for its insulation properties. To make aircrete, you need to have cement and water, a foaming agent, and a foam generator of some kind. A homemade foam generator is used for this project, made from some PVC pipes, a few valves and unions and powered by an air compressor.
There are a number of foaming agents that can be used to make aircrete. The number one foaming agent is Drexel FM-160. This is a high quality professional product that is more expensive than some other options for foaming agents. If you are making a large amount or a high-quality project, you may want to make the investment into this Drexel product. Otherwise, you could make aircrete using concentrated liquid dish soap or even shaving cream. These products can make a dense foam that can support the weight of the curing concrete, at least for a time.
Vegetable glycerin is added to the concrete mixture when making aircrete to prolong the lifespan of the bubbles. This allows the concrete enough time to begin the actuation and hardening process before all of the bubbles collapse under the weight of the wet concrete mix. When the bubbles do pop or deteriorate inside the hardened concrete, there is a tiny void or air pocket left behind which helps improve the insulation values of this type of lightweight concrete mix design.
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#creatingconcrete #concretemix #aircrete #diyconcrete #concrete

[@HergerTheJoyous]

I've found if you add paper pulp and wood glue you can achieve an aerated concrete that rivals regular aircrete.

[@-maccabee]

love your channel man!

[@victoryfirst2878]

Congratulations Sir, you have described in down to earth and vivid detail on making the product. May I add something here with stainless steel scrub pads. A lot of pads today are really cheap steel scrub pads plated in stainless steel . Does not hold up well to this application. Just saying from usage Sir. 😀😀😀😀😀

[@garybasic7406]

Also waiting for part 2

[@creatingconcrete]

LIve now

[@paulantonucci6933]

hello i have watching your video's and they are great they are funny but in a good way .i need your help im have been make those turtle step stones u put are the yard i made the first it came out great but it has some problems then i made more and the problem is the stones are going to the top of the turtle i did the shaking thing so all the air comes to the top but why dose the stones go to the bottom can you help me thank you

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Thanks for the videos. I'm wondering what your thoughts are about making this aircrete for sculpting, the way people sculpt insulation foam & similar foams? Have you tried to slice it with a blade or form it with a file or rasp? (I would expect to need to hard coat such a sculpture with some type of harder modeling coating... but I'm wondering if you think it could be suitable as an underlying sculptural base)?

[@creatingconcrete]

it is remarkably difficult to work, finish or sculpt. Not sure it would give desirable results.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

thanks @@creatingconcrete

[@DanielEng-wz5pd]

Where you can get wood pulp and wood glue in small qty

[@faleravanbalen8175]

Hi, I was wondering if there is a Drexel equivalent that's widely available in Europe? The Drexel products all seem to need to come form the US, a bit far for shipping. Or will the regular dishwashing soap also work (like Dreft or Fairy)?

[@creatingconcrete]

I would try using a strong concentrated liquid soap versus importing drexel if it is not available in your area. Use the vegetable glycerin to help stabilize the foam.

[@spherevsgravity]

waiting for part 2

[@creatingconcrete]

It is up and live on the channel now

[@sharonglazier2552]

So aircrete is more insulation than structural, can I use aircrete to insulate the walls of a cabin would it keep the cold out and keep the heat in?

[@creatingconcrete]

It probably would, yes. But if this were my cabin I think a vermiculite mix of 4:1 would be superior for both strength and insulation value.

[@sharonglazier2552]

@@creatingconcrete thanks for the information.

[@ann1541]

Sadly we bought our foam generator for over 400 bucks. I'm crying on the inside