Research background

                At present, Thailand has waste materials from various industrial sources, such as the ashes from the combustion of biomass fuels and the dregs from wastewater treatment plants. MTEC research team, therefore, has used them as raw materials, based on their chemical compositions to develop a synthetic lightweight material, called G-rock. Ceramic processing techniques, such as molding process and high-temperature sintering are employed to produce G-rock in the form of pellets, which is lightweight, strong and possesses a good heat-insulating property.

Research objective

                MTEC research team plans to utilize industrial waste materials by developing a prototype of G-Rock that is easy-to-use and handy. G-Rock can be used in various concrete works to improve certain properties, such as lightweightness and thermal insulation, while maintaining the endurance of conventional concrete. The use of G-rock will also help reduce the overall production cost.

Research process

            The research team has cooperated with a company to develop a formula in the industrial production processes by using raw materials within the country that are inexpensive and readily available, especially the by-products from manufacturing processes in various industries, such as biomass fuel combustion and dregs from wastewater treatment plants.

Research qualification

1. G-Rock can be used as a replacement for natural stones in concrete, which creates a weight reduction of concrete parts more than 20% compared to conventional concrete. Therefore, it will help reduce the weight of structures in the building and the cost of transportation. The lifting of building parts during an installation is also facilitated.
2. G-Rock is a good heat insulation because its structure contains a large number of air bubbles, thus helps minimizing solar heat transmission into a building.