Externet Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 Hi. What compound would be the most convenient to mix with mortar to expand it to a very lightweight pumice type end product with non-toxic microbubbles? I say micro because I believe that if the bubbles are somewhat large, would surface too easily before the cement cures. Thanks, Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coquina Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 Hi.What compound would be the most convenient to mix with mortar to expand it to a very lightweight pumice type end product with non-toxic microbubbles? I say micro because I believe that if the bubbles are somewhat large' date=' would surface too easily before the cement cures. Thanks, Miguel [/quote'] I have machined a substance that was similar to styrofoam, but it was impregated with hollow glass balls. http://www.eagerplastics.com/7962.htm They're not terribly expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silencer Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 What is the end goal? To make like a brick you can scrub with? I'm sure that mixing an acid like HCl in with the mortar will react with some minerals in it to produce hydrogen gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Externet Posted April 15, 2005 Author Share Posted April 15, 2005 Hi. Yes, you may say a concrete block to scrub with. Was more inclined to a (finely powdered) alka-seltzer type of compound to be mixed dry with Portland cement; to release microbubbles at the moment of wetting the mix.... A cheap sodium bicarbonate type of compound. Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silencer Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 Baking soda! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molotov Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 sodium lauryl sulphate the only foaming agent I know of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akcapr Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 baking soda and aluminum sulfate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TATER Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 baking soda and powdered citric acid!!!!!both react together when wet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Student_777 Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Lots of bubbles??? I've heard you can just dump a bottle of Ivory liquid dish soap into a public fountain.... Go away for ten minutes then come back... Watch everyone stare lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TATER Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Try sodium iodide, and hydrogen peroxide. also works as a funny prank:-pif all else fails, try potassium permanganate, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT2095 Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 yeast and sugar in the cement, it`ll give you a nice delay before the bubbles form, exactly like cement loaf of bread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 yeast and sugar in the cement, it`ll give you a nice delay before the bubbles form, exactly like cement loaf of bread could this replace the concrete shoes popular among enemies of the mafia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT2095 Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I`ve no idea, I`ll bring it up the next I meet the Don. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grifter Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 ha ha yeast and sugar in the cement eh' i think ill give that one a go ohhhh and sodium iodide, and hydrogen peroxide. now thats good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cuthber Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I suspect that most cement is far too alkaline to permit the growth of yeast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Externet Posted April 28, 2007 Author Share Posted April 28, 2007 Right, John. Concrete pH is 11 - 12 , very alkaline. And sodium bicarbonate needs an acid to bubble. So it may not work. Damn! -Back to the thinking hat. Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Mick Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Try an expanding grout. I believe these contain aluminium powder, the cement alkali releases hydrogen. No smoking! Can these be mixed with ordinary (Portland) cement? I don't know. Possibly. This is a question for a building supplier. Expanding grout has been used on pre-stressed, post-tensioned concrete bridges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavenatti Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Getting bubbles to form evenly throughout the mix, not come to the surface and not ruin the integrity of the cement is going to be pretty tough. Why not just add perlite? That's how most lightweight concrete mixes are made anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Externet Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Seems so far it will have to be as Tater says, ..."baking soda and powdered citric acid"... Ascorbic acid is the same, right ? Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT2095 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 no, you`ll just end up making Calcium Citrate or Calcium Ascorbate. the CO2 will react with the Calcium hydroxide to form the Carbonate (no bubbles). Al or Zn powder should work well though, aim for Amphoteric edit: Oh and another thing, Excess CO2 in calcium hydroxide will make the Bicarbonate and that`s Perfectly soluble, and thus useless. I should have though of this before the yeast idea, apologies for that oversight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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