Share the link with your friends Gypsum has been known to mankind for more than 5000 years and thanks to its quality characteristics actively used during finishing, repair, construction work
, and also as a decorative material. Currently, its use has not lost its relevance, but has only acquired new forms in the form of alabaster.
Concept and method of production
Alabaster or building gypsum is a fine powder produced by firing and subsequent grinding from gypsum stone, with heat treatment of 150-180 degrees. The result is a dry, fine-grained mixture, which, when mixed with water in a certain proportion, again turns into gypsum.
Application of alabaster
Construction gypsum is widely used in the renovation of apartments, houses, cottages, etc. With its help, you can easily eliminate any defects and uneven surfaces: seal cracks, holes, seams (in brick, concrete masonry, drywall), various gaps, for example, between a plastered wall and a plinth, and much more. Separately, it should be noted the use of alabaster for electrical installation work when it is necessary to cover the grooves or fix the socket box in the wall. This material is also indispensable in interior decoration, in particular the installation of stucco molding and its repair. It's no secret that many stylistic directions provide for the installation around the perimeter of the ceiling, various baguettes, friezes and individual gypsum elements. Considering relatively heavy weight
decor, it requires careful fixation to the base, which only alabaster can provide.
To answer the question, it is necessary to understand the features of building gypsum and note its main advantages, the main one of which is quick setting. Compared to other similar dry mixtures, alabaster has a minimum initial setting time of 5 to 15 minutes, while the final strength gain occurs in 2-2.5 hours. Such indicators can significantly increase work productivity and speed up the pace of their implementation. For example, plastering work or leveling walls according to beacons. It is enough to install the profiles on the base using alabaster and after 15 minutes you can begin to apply the plaster solution.
In addition, it should be noted:
- Fire resistance - alabaster does not burn and prevents the spread of fire.
- High binding characteristics.
- Rapid strength gain.
- Environmentally friendly - alabaster is not capable of harming human health, as it is made exclusively from natural material, without the addition of toxic chemicals.
Preparation of the solution
To produce the solution you will need dry alabaster and water, in proportions of 2:1, depending on the specific task. For example, to seal grooves, it is better to reduce the amount of liquid until a thicker gypsum dough is obtained.
The mixing process is very similar to preparing wallpaper glue. Pour into the container cold water and only then, with constant stirring, is the alabaster poured in. It should be remembered that the viability of the gypsum solution is about 15 minutes, so it is better to prepare it in small quantities, exactly as much as can be used in the specified time. Repeated mixing with the addition of water is not allowed, since alabaster will already lose its original properties.
If it is necessary to extend the “life” of alabaster, then you can add a little wallpaper glue to the finished solution and close the container plastic bag. Then the setting time of the building gypsum will increase, without losing its quality and performance characteristics.
Passing by a facility under construction, you can see a large amount of petrified alabaster in a pile of construction waste. It’s easy to guess that a newbie worked here, since a professional knows how to grow alabaster. Let's look at why this happens.
Properties of alabaster
It is worth noting that many people still do not distinguish alabaster from plaster. This is especially noticeable in a construction supermarket, if a person asks, they say, there is alabaster or plaster for the walls, and when the seller asks the question what exactly the buyer needs, then in response he is asked: “What's the difference?” This is what we will talk about, since these are similar materials, because alabaster is a type of gypsum, but has its own distinctive characteristics. In addition, two inscriptions can appear on one package at once. It is important to understand this, since these materials are diluted differently.
What is it? construction alabaster and what are its characteristics? Let's start with the fact that alabaster:
- translucent;
- grainy;
- it has a grayish tint;
- it contains many impurities, which make this material easy to work with;
- plastic;
- more water resistant;
- does not increase in volume and does not crumble after drying.
Alabaster, unlike gypsum, does not harden for a longer period, which allows you to dilute this material in a slightly larger volume - this is very convenient when working with it.
We breed alabaster
How to grow alabaster? First of all, water, although you can also use lime mortar. Now let's look at how to breed it and what proportions it should be.
According to building codes and rules, the proportion of dilution of alabaster is provided: per 1 kg of this building material there is an average of 0.6 liters of liquid. By following these rules, you will have a mixture that is easy to work with.
Since diluting alabaster in large volumes is not always advisable, it is important to maintain the proportion, calculating that for one part of alabaster (based on the amount of dry mixture) you need to use a sixth of water for dilution.
On a note
It seems that alabaster is very easy to dilute, but let’s not forget about the example at the beginning of the article. It said that in fact not much of this material is used for its intended purpose. So let's pay attention to some details.
- First, the required amount of water (or lime mortar) is collected into the container.
- To avoid the appearance of lumps, it is better to stir the solution with a mixer.
- The solution should be mixed in a plastic container, as this will allow it to remain in a liquid state longer.
If you dilute the solution correctly, it will be pleasant to work with, and a pile of discarded alabaster that has not been used for its intended purpose will not grow near the house. We also invite you to watch a video that will make the process of growing alabaster more clear.
Video
This video describes the features of growing alabaster for the subsequent installation of socket boxes:
Often during production various crafts The instructions in the instructions are not entirely complete. For example, when making wood from beads, it is recommended to use alabaster for the base, ground, and tree trunk. The instructions for the master class do not say how alabaster is grown.
In order to correct this injustice, we will create separate instructions, talking about this process.
What is alabaster and how does it differ from alabaster
Don't think there's a mistake here. Indeed, there are two materials with completely different properties, called by the same word - “alabaster”. There is a mineral, calcium carbonate, from which vases, funeral vessels, and sculpture were made in antiquity. He can be different colors- from white to black, - and has some transparency for light, which, however, was quite enough for filling window openings in churches during the Middle Ages.
The translucent material is also called alabaster onyx. Today, calcite alabaster is also used to make various decorative items. This material is relatively hard (3 on the mineralogical hardness scale) and is processed with tools - cut, polished. Naturally, we are not talking about diluting calcite alabaster with water.
Another material that is more common and commonly associated with the word “alabaster” is gypsum alabaster, or simply gypsum. It is well known to those who, one way or another, have encountered repairs or broken a limb. The material from which the surgeon makes a splint to immobilize a limb or part of the body in case of fractures, sprains or other types of injuries, and the electrician uses to fix the cable in the groove, is all alabaster. Both choose this material because of the property of the gypsum solution to harden in an extremely short time - from 2 to 20 minutes, with a final set of strength within an hour.
Gypsum is made from gypsum stone (alabaster), a sulfate mineral. Natural raw materials are fired and crushed, resulting in a material called β-gypsum. The coarser fraction is used as a binding material in mortars, and has the commonly used name of alabaster or building gypsum. Finer ground material is used for making impressions and castings, for example, when making gypsum stucco it is molding gypsum. Highly purified and finely ground raw materials are used to make material for medical needs. With additional processing of ground gypsum stone, α-gypsum is obtained, which has greater strength compared to β-gypsum.
Which is better: building alabaster or building plaster
From the above, it is clear that alabaster and gypsum are the same thing, and do not be fooled by “experienced advice” that explains to you the advantages of gypsum over alabaster or vice versa, and also proves that alabaster hardens more slowly than gypsum. The lifetime of the gypsum solution depends on the additives added by the manufacturer to the dry mixture. And the manufacturer does this in accordance with GOST 125-79, which describes technical specifications production of gypsum binders. According to the mentioned state standard, gypsum mixtures can be of various grades, depending on strength and three degrees of hardening:
- A – fast-hardening, solution lifetime from 2 to 15 minutes;
- B – normal hardening (6-30 minutes);
- B – slow-hardening (hardening starts from 20 minutes, the end is not standardized).
Manufacturers can write both “gypsum” and “alabaster” on the packaging, and sometimes even both terms at the same time. Therefore, choose a material for your tasks not by name, but by technical qualities indicated by the marking. If you need to quickly fix something, for example, plaster beacons or a cable in a groove, quick-hardening gypsum is suitable for you, and if you want to make something, then would be better suited normally hardening mixture. Molding plaster is more expensive, but if your casting has fine details, it will be preferable to stucco, which has a larger grain. Medical grade is also more expensive than construction grade, but apart from the price and the inscription on the packaging, there are no other differences between the molding and the making of crafts.
How to dilute alabaster
Well, finally, having understood the nuances of the differences between alabaster and gypsum, let’s move on to the procedure for mixing the solution. Actually, if you are planning to make something from gypsum and have already bought a bag of dry mixture, then these instructions are of no use to you: any manufacturer indicates on the packaging how and in what proportions the solution is made. In general, these instructions advise making a solution using one part water and two parts alabaster.
Do not forget that gypsum hardens in a few minutes, and the main rule when diluting is to make as much solution as you can produce within the lower hardening time limit characteristic of the brand of gypsum that you purchased. That is, if the package says “from 6 to 30 minutes,” then you need to count on six minutes.
That is why you should not try to plaster or putty with alabaster; it can only fill in small irregularities or chips. In addition to gypsum, factory-made gypsum putties and plasters contain additives that slow down the setting process, making work comfortable.
There are several secrets when working with gypsum:
- using warm water for the solution speeds up the hardening time;
- attempts to add water to a hardening solution will not lead to anything good;
- at home, wallpaper glue can serve as an additive that slows down the hardening of gypsum;
If you are renovating your house or apartment, then it is impossible to do without alabaster. Where is this material obtained from? Is it harmful to human health? Alabaster - what is it? The answers to all these questions are given below.
Material characteristics
A building material distinguished by its viscosity and obtained from gypsum is called alabaster. Very often it is used for the manufacture of various products, as well as during repair work. Construction gypsum is another name for the material.
The basis of alabaster is gypsum - by its origin natural material. Construction gypsum (alabaster) is an environmentally friendly substance that does not cause any harm to human health. It is characterized by excellent sound insulation and water resistance. The area is quite wide. It is used in production various forms, construction products.
When carrying out repair work, the material is ideal for sealing cracks, leveling floors and walls. When dry, the alabaster solution is not susceptible to cracking and forms a thin, even and smooth layer that is applied to a clean treated surface, which, if required, is covered
Having studied the characteristics of the material, you can easily answer the question of what alabaster is.
Excursion into history
Alabaster has been used as a building material since ancient times. Its natural softness makes its processing simple and does not require complex and durable tools. The material was used to make sculptures, vessels, etc. Calcite was used for this. Now he is in little demand. Gypsum alabaster is popular in construction.
Methods for obtaining alabaster
Construction gypsum looks like a powder obtained from For this, it is fired and then crushed. The main advantage of alabaster, which distinguishes it from similar materials, is its rapid hardening. This is worth remembering when studying the question of how to breed alabaster.
This property of the material must be taken into account when creating gypsum dough, before pouring it into molds. Usually the solution is prepared in a 2/1 ratio, where 2 parts are alabaster and 1 part is cold water. It should be remembered that gypsum mortar must be used as soon as possible, otherwise it will harden. If you need to increase the setting time, then animal glue is added to the alabaster in small quantities.
Pros and cons of alabaster
Construction gypsum is used for repair work in premises where people will subsequently live.
The disadvantages of the material include low strength and low moisture resistance. These disadvantages can be reduced by using special additives.
Where can I buy building plaster?
Manufacturers produce about 10 different brands of alabaster. You can buy it in construction stores, packed in bags of various weights. Construction plaster should be stored in a dry place, well protected from moisture, preferably no more than 6 months.
Scope of application of building gypsum
Alabaster - what is it, where do manufacturers get the raw materials for its production? Natural gypsum is extracted from quarries and then subjected to heat treatment. Subsequently, in special mills, the annealed gypsum is crushed into fine powder.
Alabaster is used for leveling walls, floors, and ceilings in rooms with minimal air humidity. It is excellent for making stucco and gypsum fiber boards.
The moisture resistance of building gypsum can be increased by adding synthetic resins or organosilicon compounds to the solution. Covering films and impregnations made from alabaster are also popular. Products made from alabaster are fire-resistant and are destroyed by fire only after 6 hours of intense heating. Therefore, they are often used as fire retardant coatings.
As with any other material, there are many nuances when using this one that should be studied if you are going to work with it and want to know: alabaster - what it is.
How to prepare gypsum dough
A solution of building gypsum is prepared at the rate of 1 kg of material per 0.5 liters of water. First, water is poured into the container, and then the material is carefully poured into it, while stirring it so that lumps do not form. The mixture should have the consistency of sour cream. The decision on how to breed alabaster must be taken very seriously. The final result of the work will largely depend on this.
We should not forget that the solution hardens within half an hour, and sometimes faster. If the prepared mixture has thickened, then it should not be diluted with water, and this is unlikely to happen. To increase the setting time of the solution, you can add a little carpentry or wallpaper glue to it.
To improve the water resistance of an alabaster product, it can be painted or coated with a special moisture-proof paste.
The gypsum dough is applied with a spatula or trowel; after finishing the work, the tool must be rinsed well.
Alabaster should be stored in rooms where air humidity does not exceed 60%.
Conclusion
By adopting the rules for working with alabaster and adhering to them, you can efficiently carry out all the required construction or repair work.
Each builder has his own opinion on how to dilute alabaster. Most mixture preparation techniques are based on personal experience and brand of material. However, there is a so-called standard way mixing, which is used by many specialists in the construction industry.
Alabaster - areas of its use in construction
Alabaster is a dry, fine-grained mixture that can be used for large quantity construction work. In most cases, the material is used to perform various construction tasks and to create many decorative objects. Alabaster also performs other functions:
- used for sealing seams, cracks, holes and chips;
- used for fixing cables in grooves when performing electrical installation work;
- used for the manufacture of beacons and slopes;
- used for puttying of enclosing structures.
In the case of the last two tasks, alabaster should be diluted together with cement mortar. Its use in its pure form for puttying and making structures is impractical, since this material hardens very quickly.
Pros and cons of the mixture - distinctive features of the material
Before working with the mixture, novice builders should study the properties of this material. It is not for nothing that the powder is in high demand among buyers, because it has good technological characteristics. First of all, these include the almost instantaneous hardening of the building material upon contact with water. Because of this, the mixture has practically no substitutes in cases where high-quality and quick finishing of a given surface is required.
Besides high speed The setting material also has a low density, which makes it possible to use it not only in construction, but also for repair work. The mixture has excellent fire-resistant properties and is difficult to set on fire. Another big advantage of the material is good sound insulation. It is also worth noting that alabaster for construction work is finishing material with a small mass, so it does not shrink during the hardening process. In addition, it is absolutely safe for human health.
Despite the fact that alabaster diluted in water hardens quite quickly, it is not very durable. It is not able to withstand heavy loads, so use it for finishing load-bearing walls Not recommended. In addition, even solid material tends to absorb large amounts of water vapor. Because of this, alabaster is not used when decorating rooms with high humidity. Solid alabaster is destroyed very quickly when exposed to dry and hot air. Under such conditions, the material crumbles quite quickly.
Types of alabaster - different mixtures for specific tasks
Depending on the rate of hardening of alabaster, fast-hardening, medium-hardening and slow-hardening materials are distinguished. The first type of mixture begins to harden within a few minutes after mixing and finally sets 15 minutes after preparation. The second type of material hardens 7 minutes after preparation and becomes maximum hard within 35 minutes. The last type of alabaster begins to set 20 minutes after mixing and finally hardens after 40 minutes.
In most cases, a mixture is used for construction purposes white with markings G-5 And G-6. It is used as plaster in sheet form in the production of different types drywall, gypsum fiber, etc. Also among the areas of application of the mixture it is worth highlighting the production of panels for partitions and the preparation of putty mixtures according to specific recipes.
To meet the needs of various manufacturing industries where there is a need for high strength elements, it is worth using alabaster with markings G-13–G-25. Such mixtures fully comply with all construction and safety standards.
Preparing the container and diluting the mixture - all the subtleties for beginners
Having understood what alabaster is and what types it comes in, let’s consider the principles of mixing it in water. They are a little different from the preparation of others building materials due to the high rate of hardening of alabaster.
Before diluting the mixture, you must select a suitable vessel for the work. Using a plastic bowl or bucket is not recommended as the diluted material will dry out and you will need to continually scrape it off the sides of the container. Because of this, most specialists prefer to work with alabaster in rubber vessels, mixing a small amount of powder each time. Thus, the remnants of the finished mixture can be completely removed by gently squeezing the container. You can make containers for working with alabaster yourself, using an unnecessary car tire or an old ball.
If the situation requires diluting a large amount of powder, then ordinary powder can be placed on the walls and bottom of the vessel. plastic film and securely fix it inside the container. While working, make sure that the container is not accidentally damaged, otherwise the water will quickly flow out of it and you will spoil the powder. So that working with the material gives good result, in the process of mixing the powder, you should strictly adhere to certain proportions. Many builders ignore this need, as a result of which the mixture either hardens very quickly or does not dry at all.
To prevent similar situations from happening to you, the first few times the mixture should be prepared according to a proven recipe. To begin, you will need to pour half a liter of water into a rubber container. Next, take a bag of alabaster and pour 1 kg of powder into the water. Do not pour out the required portion at once. It is best to do this gradually, stirring the mixture with your other hand. The finished solution should be homogeneous, without lumps of sticky powder. During mixing, you need to pay attention to the walls of the container - there should be no powder residue on them.
Experienced experts advise not to overdo it with mixing alabaster. If you stir the substance for too long, the final material may lose its strength.
After about five minutes of mixing, the mixture will begin to thicken. Depending on the brand of powder, complete hardening of the mixture will occur in 20–35 minutes. Taking into account this algorithm and the rate of hardening of the mixture, we can conclude that in one batch you need to prepare as much material as you can use within 5–7 minutes of work. The solution prepared using this algorithm will become the best option for repairing cracks in walls, fixing communications and other simple construction work.
Preparation of material for plastering work
Mixing alabaster for wall plaster is slightly different from the first method of preparing the mixture. First you need to decide on the type of work to be done and, accordingly, the brand of powder used. If the material is needed to level the walls outside the building, then a mixture based on cement mortar is best suited for this. For the same work inside the house, a lime-based mixture will be optimal. As for alabaster specifically, a solution based on this powder and lime is ideal for eliminating various cracks and other errors.
Before direct mixing, it is best to prepare a dry mixture, which will then be filled with water with the addition of alabaster powder. Can be used as a vessel old tire or another container with a flat bottom. The walls of the container should not be lower than 10 cm.
The mixing process begins by pouring sand into a vessel. After this, lime “dough” is poured into the same container at the rate of 1 part sand to 5 parts lime. Take a spatula and thoroughly mix the ingredients until a homogeneous mass appears. After this, you can gradually pour in the liquid, remembering to stir the mixture. As a result, the substance should resemble fatty sour cream.
Next, we begin preparing the “dough” from alabaster. It should be taken into account that the amount finished material should match lime mixture in a ratio of 1:4. After this, transfer the gypsum “dough” into a vessel with lime and knead thoroughly, but not for too long. Immediately after you have prepared the substance, you need to proceed to plastering work. If you plan to work alone, then you need to familiarize yourself with the intricacies of the procedure before it begins.
The first stage is the so-called “spraying” of the coating. To do this, the mixture is taken out using a trowel - a construction shovel with a curved handle. To correctly complete the first stage, you need to scoop up a small amount of the mixture with a trowel and, with a sharp movement of your hand, throw the solution onto the wall covering. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise you will simply splatter the material on the wall.
During the second stage, you need to apply the primer using a wide spatula. If you make plaster using beacons, then the layer of the mixture must be leveled strictly along the built-in slats. Immediately after this you will need to apply another thin layer material. It is very important to apply the final coat before the previous mixture dries. If you did not have time to do this, then the previous material needs to be sprayed with water.
When the top layer of the material is completely dry, it should be treated with a plastic float. This is done with circular movements of the hand. In this case, you need to try to press the tool as tightly as possible to the surface being processed and move counterclockwise. Preparing, mixing and applying the alabaster mixture is not difficult. The main thing to remember is the small amount of time that will be at your disposal.
Gypsum and alabaster powder - what are the differences?
Often, novice builders are faced with a situation when a consultant in a store asks to clarify what exactly is required for the work - alabaster or gypsum powder. Many people believe that both of these terms have the same meaning, although in fact this is not the case. There are several factors in which both of these materials differ from each other.
Firstly, alabaster is one of the types of construction gypsum powder. The first can be used exclusively in construction, while the second has found application in medicine.
The second difference is that the alabaster “dough” is harder than the gypsum mixture. Therefore, the first material is often not used where the second is used.
The applied and dried gypsum mixture is much safer for humans. It does not emit vapors that alabaster can produce. In addition, gypsum coatings are less likely to develop fungus.
