Glass-magnesium sheet - technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of LSU

Magnesium glass sheet is a modern finishing and building material, which, due to its good technical characteristics, quickly became a worthy competitor for the well-known drywall.

Magnesite glass sheet - composition and production process

LSU or glass-magnesium sheets quickly became a popular material in the construction market. They are in demand due to their high strength due to their composition. Magnesia glass slabs are composed of binders, volcanic glass, fine wood chips, sodium chloride and magnesium oxide.

The LSU production procedure includes several main stages:

1. 1. Making a mixture of dry components. Components are fed into the screw mixer in certain proportions, then they are mixed.
2. 2. Creation of saline solution. In special containers made of plastic, a saline solution is created, consisting of salt and water. After straining, the solution is allowed to brew for a day.
3. 3. Mixing the solution with the mixture. Using a special mixer, the prepared solution and dry mixture are mixed, forming a homogeneous mass.
4. 4. Creation of sheets. The first layer of the previously obtained mass is poured into the mold, a reinforced mesh is laid on it and the second layer of mortar is poured on top.
5. 5. Design of the LSU front side. The solidified mass is rolled with rollers to form a perfectly flat surface.
6. 6. Drying and pruning. The sheets are allowed to dry, after which their edges are cut to create finishing materials of the desired size and shape.

The glass-magnesium sheet acquires its technical characteristics precisely during aging and drying. In order for the finished materials to have durability, strength and uniformity, drying is carried out in two stages. First, the sheets are kept horizontally on a special substrate, then left for some time, set on the edge.

Types of popular facing material and their differences

The modern market offers customers a wide range of glass-magnesium sheets. All of them can be divided into three large categories, the first of which is premium LSU. These are the highest quality and most expensive materials that are distinguished by their significant density, resistance to various adverse influences and exposure to high humidity. It is customary to use such magnesite glass sheets (panels) for external finishing works, for decorating building facades and building roofs.

The second category is standard panels. The largest group of finishing materials, which includes universal glass magnesite sheets. They can be used for external and internal decoration of vertical surfaces, for finishing ceilings and even for roofing. Most of the "Standard" class products have light shades - from yellow to beige.

The third category is budget panels. Economy class products are not highly resistant to adverse external influences, therefore they are usually used only for interior decoration of buildings and premises, as well as for the construction of thin interior partitions. The LSU class determines not only the operational parameters of the material, but also its thickness. The cheapest panels have a thickness of 4 mm, while the highest quality and durable panels can reach a thickness of 12 mm.

The most important technical characteristics of LSU panels

Regardless of the class, any LSU sheet must comply with certain technical characteristics and standards that determine the operational parameters of the material, its functionality, durability and other features.

The most important technical characteristics of LSU are:

1. 1. Noise isolation 44 dB.
2. 2. Density 1000-1100 kg / m 3.
3. 3. Bending strength of dry sheet is 16 mRa.
4. 4. Flexural strength of a wet sheet is 22 mRa.
5. 5. Possible swelling 0.34%.
6. 6. Fire hazard class NG.
7. 7. Thermal insulation 0.14 W / mK.
8. 8. Water repellency over 95%.
9. 9. Resistance to frost - more than 50 freezing and thawing.
10. 10. Water absorption from 20 to 25%.

Magnesia glass sheet premium and budget have not only common characteristics, but also individual qualities. One of these characteristics is the holding time of an open flame. For a standard sheet with a thickness of about 6 mm, this parameter is 2 hours. Budget LSUs will be able to withstand direct contact with fire for less than this period, and expensive premium ones for longer.

LSU sheets - main advantages and disadvantages

A glass-magnesium panel or plate is very popular today, due to the many important advantages of this finishing material. Speaking about the advantages of LSU, first of all, it is necessary to note their low cost. The average price of one glass-magnesium sheet is 350 rubles, and no special equipment is required for assembling the panels with your own hands, which saves the buyer's money even more.

Due to their resistance to moisture, high-quality glass-magnesium sheets can be used to decorate buildings located even in regions with harsh climatic conditions. In almost any climate, this facing material is able to maintain its technical, visual and operational parameters for a long time.

LSUs are also distinguished by excellent resistance to high and low temperatures. The material is considered refractory, as it can withstand temperatures of about 1000 degrees. It also does not lose its visual qualities even in the coldest winter months. The glass-magnesium sheet is also resistant to mechanical stress. Accidental impacts with hard objects will not crack or dent.

Due to the composition and method of production, LSU is extremely lightweight, therefore this material is excellent not only for exterior and interior decoration, but also for creating interior interior partitions that will not create a significant additional load on the foundation and floors.

The good flexibility of magnesia glass panels allows them to be used to create semicircular door and window openings, as well as arches. The material is environmentally friendly, does not contain chemical additives hazardous to human health, and at the same time can properly serve for several decades.

After all, LSU is easy to assemble yourself. Magnesite glass sheets are easy to drill, cut with a hacksaw and grinder. You can glue wallpaper on them without additional finishing and leveling. But it should be borne in mind that all the main advantages of LSU are characteristic exclusively for high-quality materials manufactured in compliance with high technological standards.

Magnesia glass sheet, namely its use in decoration and construction, has both positive qualities and disadvantages that must be taken into account. All the advantages of LSU described above are so obvious and significant only for materials of the "Premium" and "Standard" class, more affordable budget glass-magnesium sheets differ:

• significantly shorter service life;
• fragility in the corners;
• low resistance to high humidity;
• the likelihood of material delamination during operation;
• the possibility of salt release during use, which can lead to corrosive processes.

That is why it is customary to use LSU class "Economy" only in the design of the interior of buildings and structures, where this material will not experience serious stress, which means that it will be able to serve a person for a long time.

Glass-magnesium panels - the rules for choosing a quality material

One of the disadvantages of LSUs today is often called the fact that they are extremely popular, which is why such materials are produced not only by large and serious companies, but also by firms wishing to cash in on buyers who cannot distinguish high-quality glass-magnesium sheets from low-quality ones. That is why it is necessary to approach the choice of materials with all possible responsibility. Experts recommend that when studying the assortment in the construction market, pay attention to the following important factors:

1. 1. Color of LSU. High-quality material is distinguished by light shades: light yellow, light beige or a similar color. Pure white and gray shades are a clear sign of poor quality panels. In addition, if you run your hand over the front surface of the sheet, you should not feel unevenness and roughness. Good LSU sheets should be perfectly smooth.
2. 2. The quality of the corners. The corners of glass-magnesium sheets are their weakest point. In order to guarantee a long service life of the purchased panels, it is necessary to make sure that they do not crumble along the edges.
3. 3. The base of the sheet. To reduce the cost of production, some companies use a non-woven base on the back of the panels. The presence of non-woven fabric will reduce the heat resistance of the material, therefore it is not recommended to purchase such products.

Sometimes buyers can purchase a small piece of glass-magnesium hob to test its quality. In this case, the material must be placed in water and wait a few hours. If the water becomes cloudy, it means that the material does not have the required moisture resistance.

The correct choice of LSU allows you to guarantee the high quality of the interior and exterior decoration of the house. It is better to spend extra time studying the proposals on the building materials market than to purchase cheap finishes, the operation of which can bring nothing but disappointment.