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LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate) is an aggregate made of expanded clay at average 1200 C° in rotary kiln, the Yielding gases are expanded by thousands of small bubbles as long as this temperature and those will be provide many voids and honeycombs at these round shape aggregates when melted materials become cold.

The clays and shales expanded were developed about 1917 in Kansas City, Missouri, to the production in a rotary kin of a patented expanded aggregate known as Haydite which was used in the construction of USS Selma, an ocean-going ship launched in1919year. There following in the USA the development of a series of aggregates known as Gravelite, Perlite, Rocklite and etc. In Europe,LECAcommenced in Denmark, Germany, Holland (Netherlands) and the UK.

The manufactured aggregates are produce in various sizes; Four usualgradesare (0-4) mm, (4-10) mm, (10-25) mm and mix grade 0-25 mm which has 430 kg/m³maxdensity, LECA boulder is a the bigger size of LECA with 100-500 mm size and 500 kg/m³density.

Some of the importantadvantagesof LECA aggregateare: lightness, thermal insulation by low conductivity coefficient, soundproofing by high acoustic resistance, moisture impermeable, incompressible under permanent pressure and gravity loads, non–decomposition against severe condition, fire resistant, Ph of nearly 7, freezing and melting resistance, easy movement and transportation, lightweight backfill and finishing, reduction of construction dead load and earthquake lateral load, perfect sweet soil for plants, best material for drainage and filtration.

LECA is an incredibly versatile material, and is utilized in an ever-increasingnumber of applications. In theconstructionindustry, it is used extensively in the production of lightweight concrete, blocks and precast or incast structural elements (panels, partitions, bricks and light tiles. LECA used in structuralbackfillagainst foundations, retaining walls, bridge abutments etc., in additional it can reduce earth pressure by 75% compared with conventional materials, and also increasesground stabilitywhile reducing settlement and land deformation. LECA candrainagethe surface water and groundwater to control ground water pressure. LECA grout can be used forflooring(finishing) and roofingwith thermal and sound insulation.

LECA is also used in water treatment facilities for thefiltrationand purification of municipal wastewater and drinking water as well as in other filtering processes, including those for dealing with industrial wastewater and fish farms.

LECA has many advantage foragriculture and landscapes, it is used as a growing medium in Hydroponics systems, and blended with other growing mediums such as soil and peat to improve drainage, retain water during periods of drought, insulate roots during frost and provide roots with increased oxygen levels promoting very vigorous growth. LECA can mix with normal sweet soil in order to reduce the weight of plants and landscapes soils.

LECA aggregate has many applications in agriculture, construction, geotechnical, civil and hydraulic engineering, Please let us to know your requirement and project in order to find best solution for your case by our technical department.

Keywords:

LECA, Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate, Lightweight Concrete, LWC, Lightweight Block and Tile, Lightweight Panel and Wall, Lightweight Finishing, Roof Protection, Lightweight Filling, Ground Stability, Soil Settlement Control, Water Filtering, Lightweight Sweet Soil, Light Agriculture Soil, Green Roof by Light Aggregate, laterlite, argex, hydroton, clay pebbles, Arexpan,