Expanded Shale, Clay & Slate Institute
2225 Murray Holladay Road · Suite 102
Salt Lake City, Ut 84117 · 801-272-7070 · Fax
801-272-3377
The Advantages and Uses of
Structural Lightweight Aggregate
Learn more about the Advantages and Uses of Ceramic Structural Lightweight Aggregate
The unique properties of this durable manufactured ceramic lightweight aggregate provides
time-tested performance. This material offers design, engineering, and environmental solutions
in structural concrete, geotechnical, asphalt, masonry, and agricultural applications.
What is ESCS Ceramic Lightweight Aggregate?
ESCS is a unique, ceramic lightweight aggregate prepared by expanding select minerals in a rotary kiln at temperatures over 1000°C. The production and raw material selection processes are strictly controlled to insure a uniform, high quality product that is structurally strong, stable, durable and inert, yet also lightweight and insulative. ESCS gives designers greater flexibility in creating solutions to meet the challenges of dead load, terrain, seismic conditions, construction schedules and budgets in today's marketplace.
Brief History
For nearly a century ESCS (Expanded
Shale, Clay and Slate) has been used successfully around the world in more than 50
different types of applications. The most notable among these are SmartWall™ concrete
masonry (lightweight block, lightweight CMU), high-rise buildings, concrete bridge decks,
high performance concrete (HPC), precast and prestressed concrete
elements, asphalt road surfaces (chip seal, asphalt surface
treatment), soil conditioner and lightweight geotechnical fills. Expanded shale, clay and slate aggregate, as manufactured by the rotary kiln process
(originally developed in 1908 and patented in 1918 as Haydite), is available throughout
the world.
The Expanded Shale, Clay & Slate Institute (ESCSI) is the international trade association for manufacturers of rotary kiln-produced expanded shale, clay and slate lightweight aggregate. ESCSI promotes the extensive use of rotary kiln-produced lightweight aggregate in the concrete masonry, ready-mix and precast markets. Based on research and development, educational material is disseminated to all phases of the building industry. The association works closely with other technical organizations (ACI, ASTM) to maintain product quality, life-safety and professional integrity throughout the construction industry and related building code bodies.
ESCS ceramic lightweight aggregate improves concrete in several ways. The most notable are weight reduction and the ability to design with specified density concrete and low density concrete. Concrete using ESCS lightweight aggregate has better thermal properties, better fire resistance, reduced autogenous shrinkage, reduced chloride ion permeability, improved freezing and thawing durability, improved contact zone between aggregate and cement matrix, less micro-cracking as a result of better elastic compatibility, more blast resistant, and has better shock and sound absorption. ESCS carrying absorbed water provides internal curing (often referred to as self-curing or water entrainment) that improves the hydration of the cement. High-Performance lightweight aggregate concrete also has less cracking, improves skid resistance and is readily placed by the concrete pumping method.
Click here to find the lightweight aggregate
manufacturing facility nearest you.
Questions / Comments: Send e-mail to ESCSI