How to Make Aircrete - Part 2

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.
Referral links to products featured in Creating Concrete videos - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
amzn.to/3vtmang - interlock stone mold
amzn.to/3VIEmDX - universal mold release
amzn.to/3TQ9e30 - silicone mold release
amzn.to/3J7Q2II - sonite sealing wax
amzn.to/4cDYz3T - Quikcrete red pigment
amzn.to/4cIlDOK - Quikcrete brown pigment
amzn.to/43EuVHL - Quikcrete charcoal pigment
amzn.to/3J0MLee - Quikcrete bonding adhesive (PVA)
amzn.to/3xlzwlW - Quikcrete bonding adhesive 4L (PVA)
amzn.to/4aiGGGg - Sika acrylic fortifier 4L
amzn.to/3vqjdUw - Drylok hydraulic cement
amzn.to/3J3aDhv - Bosch mortar mixing drill
amzn.to/4aiwQUS - 4.5" diamond cup wheel
amzn.to/4aisWvb - mortar mixing paddle whip
amzn.to/49nsDOq - Budget mortar mixer and paddle
amzn.to/4ayjR1z - Sea sponge set for texturing
amzn.to/3xvpE96 - Masonry / grout sponges
amzn.to/3TGrZ8H - Marshalltown margin trowel (rubber grip)
amzn.to/3VEhntP - Marshalltown margin trowel (wood grip)
amzn.to/3xujXbx - Marshalltown point trowel (rubber grip)
amzn.to/3TCp9Se - Marshalltown point trowel (wood grip)
amzn.to/4ale5A4 - Marshalltown 12" square trowel
amzn.to/4aEsUNI - 16" pool trowel set
amzn.to/43H3cpO - powdered concrete pigments
amzn.to/4avz2Is - fine sponge float
amzn.to/4cFsYPi - 5 gallon mixing bucket
amzn.to/4cyIKeG - bulk acrylic paint set
amzn.to/4aB9oBU - airbrush and compressor kit
amzn.to/3U29Y6c - high range water reducer
amzn.to/3TGModV - fiberglass reinforcement 3/4" strands
amzn.to/4cEd87w - alkalai resistant chopped glass fibers 3/4"
amzn.to/3J0YzNR - perlite 4 cubic foot bag (coarse)
amzn.to/3xiCYxI - vermiculite 4 cubic foot bag (coarse)
amzn.to/43H2xV8 - Aircrete FM-160 liquid foam maker
amzn.to/4aHPFk9 - RTV 100% silicone (10 pack)
amzn.to/3VKbWcS - Smooth-On Vytaflex 30 urethane rubber
amzn.to/3xiEhg6 - Smooth-On skin safe liquid silicone rubber
amzn.to/3VE04cj - slate texture skin
amzn.to/3J0QEAb - bluestone texture skin
amzn.to/3xmZfdR - basalt texture skin
amzn.to/4aFjSQE - Variable speed wet grinder step sanding kit
amzn.to/43I090s - 4.5 cubic foot cement barrel mixer 0.5hp
#creatingconcrete #concretemix #aircrete #diyconcrete #concrete

[@sharonglazier2552]

I now know how to mix it properly, I like the explanation of the water thanks.

[@creatingconcrete]

Glad it was helpful!

[@victoryfirst2878]

Do you think that there could be something else added to the foaming agent that would give the foam more pressure handling capability ?? How would aircrete compare to using something like vermiculite or perlite loose fill insulation ??? Thanks for your time and help SIr too. 😀😀😀 One other thing, I would use distilled water for the mix to prevent any problems with the mix. Do you agree ??

[@creatingconcrete]

Much weaker than verm or perlite lightweight mixes. Very little strength to the aircrete

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

What happened to the stepping stones video? You have me in agony. LOL.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

I have to spend the day doing non-concrete things anyway, except for making letter stamps. Maybe tomorrow?

[@creatingconcrete]

The stepping stone video has a ton of content to edit. Its one of the longer tutorials so far, and it is taking a long time to edit. I think probably October you will be seeing this tutorial series coming out on block molds and different mix designs / finishing techniques

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Thanks for the update. I like your techniques so I look forward to it. @@creatingconcrete

[@yanikivanov]

How come you dont add sand? Will sand make it stronger?

[@MicheleHjorleifsson]

Rather then glass fibers try basalt “fibers” it will increase the strength

[@victoryfirst2878]

What would you recommend for pumping the aircrete into 8 inch cinder blocks oval holes inside and 8 feet tall ??? Thanks 😀😀

[@lnz3704]

Sir, is it possible to mix aircrete with some other agregate ? Ive heard that aircrete cant be mix with other like sand, grafle etc because snad is heavier, so in the process of curing, all the sand will go down. But seeing you add a veg glicerine, it makes me optimistic. Who knows there is a good ratio that will result in lighter than normal concrete, a bit weaker thats fine, but have some water resisance and sound insulating feature. But one more thing, environmental friendly. Ive watch your fiber glass idea, but fiber glass is not so green material. So i hope there is other solution. Thankyou and great respect to you

[@mitkopetrovik259]

I respect your effort to share your experience with us, but I wish the videos were not so short. Next to the house we have an old shed 15m2 that needs thermal insulation and water insulation or new from ground.. Contractors very expensive or unwilling to come for a bit of work and I decided DIY, but I opened Pandora's box, so many ideas similar in function with such different names... Someone should really do a whole video just on the differences between FoamCrete, AirCrete, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC), Cellular Lightweight Concrete (CLC), StyroCrete, HempCrete etc etc Please, in Europe we don't have option to order Drexel, non "Pro" alternative foaming agent from store is must go + glicerine. I just need shortcut, how to prevent cracks in AirCrete, just to hidrate fot 2 weaks and micro fibers? What will hapen if you bake AirCrete for 2-3 hours on 180°C, or replace foam with aluminium powder like for AAC comercial products...For now, my 1st choice is StyroCrete Thanks

[@creatingconcrete]

LOL I get complaints from viewers that my videos are too long, so I made this series shorter. I guess this is just a case of not being able to make everyone happy. There is one more 10 minute video coming out this friday as part of this series and then that is all of them for this how to make aircrete tutorial

[@mitkopetrovik259]

i mean... even a teenager's first sex lasts longer than 9 minutes 😊 There are so many unknowns in your videos, they should have a beginning and an end but also have some kind of conclusion, benefit for us from the wasted time, this is not Dynasty series of 500 episodes. To summarize... what should I do to get the same or similar quality as Ytong blocks, commercial AAC or RAAC (Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete), with no cracks, no self-disintegration after a few months, DIY from start to finish... with dishwashing liquid and glycerin, with a DIY foam generator, molds, etc What are the optimal conditions to produce a quality block? Thanks

[@mukomapapapaps4358]

I like your videos