Sorry I thought you were talking about the stucco or plaster they use to put the reinforcement fabric. I have to read about that Fabric Glue

@Ignacio-DHOME Check this out

@Ignacio-DHOME thanks!

I think you will have some water accumulation at the bottom. Foam floats and water sinks to the bottom while drying.

Hello:

I have been using this method for a while now and I love the results. I'm wondering if anybody out there is making their own concentrated soap?

Now a days I'm mixing 1 teaspoon of SLS with 2 cups of seventh generation soap. I heat the soap in medium heat for a couple of minutes then I add the powder SLS and mix it well. Let it cool and boom you got super concentrated soap.

@Jim-Daubert hi! it might not be relevant any more (old question), however others might find it relevant.
In Sweden (Europe) there is a company that sells proffesional equipment and non toxic foaming agent called Aercell A-7. See http://www.aercrete.se/20-2/ for more info...

Above product is used by another company that performs construction work and has a data table with ratios of ingrediens and compression strengths. It's in swedish but use google translate...
http://www.skumbetong.nu/phone/skumbetong.html#data
Also see a video clip!

I'm not associated with those companies... nor know anything about Aercell A-7 foaming agent, but you could contact them... I have a nice home already, but I might be interested in this technology if it can be delivered in a turn key project for nordic climates too, and would than really drill down into agents nature.

Good luck with your project!!

Br,
Arslan Aga

thanks! we played around more with the compressor and it's settings. still difficult to maintain a constant output but it now works and we have good aircrete blocks. 🙂

@Moonrise you bring up a very good point about the Portland cement and CO2 emitted in production. Its about a 1 to 1 ratio of 1 ton CO2 emitted per 1 ton produced due to the heating process and the amount of fossil fuel burned to do so. https://www.geopolymer.org/fichiers_pdf/GEOASH.pdf
Check that link for information on a recipe (pg 4) that uses a less corrosive solution (Potassium Silicate solution) and cures at room temperature vs the alkali activated that needs some heat to cure if I'm not mistaken. Interesting to note that the compressive strength of the geopolymer cement in the paper is listed to be up to 95 kpa (much higher than traditional concrete). It also utilizes fly ash and slag which are waste products rather than the mostly mined raw materials Portland production uses.

@ignacio-dhome

Thank you 🙂

@longgrazz jaja OK now I know the link you were talking about. Why you think is not working?

@longgrazz I don't know what formula/link you are talking about, but let me tell you that adding SLS to any soap will make it super ultra concentrated! Heat up your soap to 140F approx, add some SLS slowly and mix. 2 cups of soap just need like a teaspoon of SLS.

@choiselat1 Did you do it? How did it turn out?

We used Seventh Generation Dish Liquid - no glycerin. Gabe and Hajjar don't ever use Dawn - I've never tried it. Your bricks look really nice - if you aren't using glycerin now, then I don't think you should start. It seems to me that you've got it figured out just fine.

Perhaps part of the problem is language -
Since the article is in the UK the article is probably discussing Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), rather than Domegaia's form of AirCrete.

The article mainly discusses the problems with using the wrong mix for mud and poor application techniques. Both problems are usually taken care of in a Domegaia type build.

@zander Zander thanks for the info. This will have significant effect on my bottom line and let me build more. I greatly appreciate those of you who are posting actual experience. I hope to be joining you soon with detailed documentation of my build experience.

I really like how your test containers are sealed off from the air. I think doing that more accurately simulates the environment of being encased in cement, sealed off from the air. Looks like a foaming agent with potential. The mfg recommends mixing at a rate of 5ml/500ml water (6.5oz/5gal water) for marking purposes. I also noticed this: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including ethylene oxide, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Hi,
I'm new to aircrete and this forum; but I'm planning to build an semi-underground structure somewhat of a mix between an earthship and a dome and I think aircrete may be the best solution to all the requirements.
I'd love to know how your home made mixer/thrower is going as I think something like that will be key...
Many thanks

@abra said in Foaming agent woes:

We assumed it was because the bubbles popped.

I think it would be correct to say that when aircrete loses volume it is caused by bubbles popping and the air escaping. What is more challenging is to say why the bubbles popped. I hear stories from very experienced aircrete makers about batches that collapse for reasons completely unknown to them. They thought they did everything like normal, but for some reason the bubbles collapsed. Then they simply try again and now it works. So it seems that there is some science to making aircrete, but there is also some art - some predictability, and some adventure. @Abra please take a look at my Aircrete Troubleshooting Guide to see if there is anything in there that might help you get the kind of results you are looking for.

I've found that the more sealed and covered with tarps my aircrete is, the better is tends to cure. However, plenty aircrete is poured without being covered at all and seems to work fine in many cases.

@handydan What is your recipe? We have not been able to make successful aircrete yet and have tried many things form seventh generation to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate with sugar and gluten to try and make the bubbles last longer..... I would love to hear from you since it sounds like you have been successful in making aircrete. Thanks in advance