What’s the Make of black concrete? (as well as its project application)

Architects love exposed concrete and black as cliché as it might sound. While the ruggedness of the concrete stresses its tones, textures, and surfaces, the sobriety of black allows the architect to focus on certain characteristics. Both seem to be a natural fit in combination. We must bear in mind, however, that black concrete is not as common as you could believe. We will discuss the black concrete production process in the following sections and various projects.

The coloring process of concrete is not new. Experiments began in the 50s involving the addition of pigment, in the form of powder or liquid, in amounts of 2% to 5% of the cement weight in dry concrete aggregates (sand and stone). Although only a small part of the mix is visible, the whole mixture gets colored. Iron oxide is commonly used in black concrete, which occurs naturally as mineral magnetic. When particles of iron oxide are mixed into concrete, the cement particles are enclosed and covered, ten times smaller.

Although Carbon Black is less common, the blend can also be added to create an even darker surface. On the other hand, carbon black is not binding to cement and therefore does not become a permanent component of the cement matrix. If the water evaporates and the concrete dissolves more quickly, the carbon is extracted.

The primary use of concrete pigment is aesthetic pigmentation. Colored concrete is structurally similar to ordinary concrete. According to academic research, pigments are capable to lower bulk density by 1% and increase water absorption capacity by 1%.

A more controlled, better managed by qualified suppliers is the use of colored concrete. Another thing to be remembered is the cautionary way to restore the original shade of any patching or maintenance work done on the surface after the work. This requires sufficient documentation on the design. When all these factors are taken into account, the process costs somewhat more. However, because it removes in the form of cover the particularly costly aspect of the job a viable option with a good cost-benefit ratio can be considered.

Written By Mahak Jain | Subscribe To Our Telegram Channel To Get Latest Updates And Don’t Forget To Follow Our Social Media Handles Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter. To Get the Latest Updates From Arco Unico