Plaster: Properties and Manufacturing Process
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ScribdTranslationsPlaster: Properties and Manufacturing Process
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ScribdTranslationsConstruction Materials Course Bachelor's Degree in Architecture / Civil Engineering
Chapter 4: Plaster
Definition
Leplâtredésigne mainly a building material for
insulating or fireproof properties, industrially manufactured from
the raw rock material that is gypsum. The term refers to,
the practice, either the powder or industrial powdered starting material
(the dry plaster to revive), or the paste consisting of a mixture of powder
and water to use (the ready-made plaster), either the compact material, by
example in the form of panels, or even the plaster coating or
the coating applied.
The ionic chemical compounds that typically make up the powder
dry plaster are actually various complex forms produced
by the thermal dehydration of gypsum, based on hemihydrate
calcium sulfate with the formula CaSO4· ½ H2O, and/or anhydrite
CaSO4 or anhydrous calcium sulfate. After mixing with water, this
colorless to white powder, sometimes pale yellow or brown, allows
the obtaining of a relatively hardened whitish material after drying,
corresponding to reformulated gypsum which is only calcium sulfate
dihydrate, with the formula CaSO4· 2 H2O. Many additives or
additives, including fillers, pigments, and colorants, can also
enter into the composition of the plaster.
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I - plaster manufacturing process
Plaster is a powdered mixture prepared since ancient times.
antiques, from the calcination of gypsum, sedimentary rock
gathered in huge masses of evaporites, formerly called
gypsum or plaster stone which can sometimes be found under
form of alabaster or selenite crystals. The stone is
generally extracted from underground mines or quarries and then
cooked and then broken, crushed and ground to give the powder
plaster white.
The two crucial steps are:
The calcination of gypsum, to obtain materials
(micro)crystalline by heating and reactions of
sometimes severe dehydration
The reduction to fine powders by grinding. The expression to beat
plaster means to reduce to powder or spray the product of
calcination or plaster cooked using a grinder.
Summary of its industrial manufacture, with the key step: the
cooking or calcination
Its industrial manufacturing today requires several minimal steps:
1. Extraction of gypsum using explosives, when it comes to deposits at
open sky: "careers".
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2. Transport from the quarry using trucks: gypsum undergoes a
crushing, in order to reduce the size of its grains.
3. Gypsum is transported using a conveyor to the screening.
the operation consists of selecting only the grains of smaller diameter
at 40 mm.
4. The selected gypsum is stored in piles in a covered room before
to be homogenized because the extracted gypsum is only 90% pure. It will also be
mixed with the help of a machine made up of rakes that will mix the
gypsum layers.
[Link] using mats, the gypsum is fed into a vertical rotary kiln.
where it will be placed in a mill where, with the help of a screw conveyor, it is ground
and crushed (like in a coffee grinder).
Selon les variétés locales, la poudre gypseuse était cuiteà au moins
150 °C. This oven allows the cooked gypsum to rise from the top of
four, while the heavier impurities remain at the bottom. Others
types of ovens exist (culée oven, straight oven, kettle oven, on-
cooker, autoclave, etc.) that yield different qualities.
After cooling to 60 °C, it becomes semi-hydrate (gypsum)
lost a molecule of water and a half.
Operating conditions remain complex: depending on the temperature of
four and its design, crystalline phases appear
variables, in nature and in proportions, in the mixture: of 121 or
At about 132°C to 150°C, the hemihydrate is the main product.
At around 200°C, soluble anhydrite prevails. A limit heating towards
200°C, with different levels, provides a hexagonal solid solution
which roughly corresponds to the early work of chemists
French to make plaster of Paris, that is, a plaster.
beta hemihydrate but this material has low mechanical strength
remains a solid microporous material with more or less anhydrite
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soluble to facilitate ingestion. If heated to about 400°C,
the insoluble anhydrite is obtained. It is then possible, at this stage,
to prepare various crystalline phases that will be used for
formulate a suitable plaster. The set of various preparations
can be rehydrated at 25°C.
autoclave treatment allows for the production of α hemihydrate plaster,
a microcrystalline variety that, when rehydrated, grants to the
consolidated plaster material has high mechanical resistance, often
greater than 30 MPa.
The plaster is then formulated, meaning that the different varieties
(micro)crystalline hemihydrates and anhydrites are mixed in a
mixer with different additives (often a few parts per thousand):
starch, to improve adhesion between plaster and cardboard,
adjuvants,
retarders to modify the setting times of plaster
colorants
various additives, etc.
It is then easy to understand that there are a large number of varieties, adapted
each has a use. For example, the special quality of casting plasters
formerly required a moderate calcination of granular gypsum slabs and
tender, well-selected, in ovens heated to a minimum of red-brown.
Case of recovery plaster
Artificial plaster comes from thermal power plants. The desulfurization is
the elimination of sulfur dioxide in gaseous emissions. To do this, one
uses of humid ash. This results in the formation of gypsum crystals that
will be used for the production of synthetic plaster usable in construction
debâtiments or the industry (mold manufacturing, etc.); Very durable, it can
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however, it can be a source of corrosion problems, especially with steel when in
contact with certain metals.
II. Use of plaster
The applications are very varied: coatings, sealing or screeds, mortars,
molds and molding materials, construction elements, such as plates
or insulating structures with plaster walls, tiles, partition tiles,
partitions, interior masonry cladding, walls, etc.
They explain the great diversity of plasters available on the market.
The different forms of plaster
• Plaster powder
Result of gypsum processing in the factory, the plaster powder is, once
mixed with water, the base of all plaster products.
• The staff
Plaster can be reinforced with fibers to create reinforced plaster. The staff is made of
hemp fiber reinforced plaster; it is used in decorationto carry out some
decorative elements (columns, cornices...)
• The stucco
Stucco is obtained by mixing plaster with various materials (for example: the
Lime. It is used in architecture for making molds or coatings.
in relief
Plaster is used to make tiles and boards (including plasterboard)
between two sheets of cardboard) often used for partitioning.
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• Plaster tiles
Rectangular molded elements, plaster tiles are mainly
used for the construction of interior partitions.
• The gypsum board
Made of molded plaster between two sheets of recycled cardboard, the panels
plaster allows for the creation of partitions, ceilings, and finishing.
interior walls.
• The plaster coating
Plaster coating is used to dress ceilings and walls.
The plaster mixed with rich lime (10 to 15%) and sand produces a very
used as an exterior and interior coating.
Coarse plaster is used for the first layer of application on ceilings.
and the walls, for filling work and for the floors.
Finishing plaster is used for the final layer of finishing.
III. Properties of plaster
During a construction, renovation, or transformation, the
plâtreest assurément une solution très préconisée pour tous les travaux
interior because its applications are numerous and very practical, namely the
creation of a false ceiling, wall covering, installation of a partition
the layout of a living room or of convertible attics, the insulation
of a roof.
The advantages of this material are numerous and that is why the
Building professionals use it very frequently: plaster is easy.
Allows for quick, clean work with detailed finishes.
It is a stable and durable material that also offers excellent
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thermal and sound insulation. Plaster, finally, is flame resistant thanks to
in its composition (only releases water vapor in case of fire). The plaster
has a low thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.4 to 0.6 kcal/m.h.°c.
It is a good thermal and sound insulator.
Note: Plaster is a non-combustible material (class M0). When a
fire, gypsum releases 18 to 20% of its constitution water. The face
not exposed remains below T=140°c as stipulated by the regulations
the classification 'Fire Door'
Example: an uncoated metal door has no resistance to
fire; covered with 2 cm of plaster, it resists fire for 1h30.
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