PAPERCRETE

          Papercrete is a tricky term. The name seems to imply a mix of paper and concrete, hence papercrete. But more accurately, only the Portland cement part of concrete is used in the mix-if used at all. Arguably, it could have been called “paperment”. Papercrete may be mixed in many ways. Different types of papercrete contain 50-80% of waste paper. Up to now, there are no hard and fast rules, but recommended standards will undoubtedly be established in future.

                   The basic constituents are water nearly any kind of paper, card board, glossy magazine stock, advertising brochure, junk mail or just about any other type of “Mixed Grade” paper is acceptable. Some types of paper work better than others, but all types of work, newsprint is the best. Water proofed paper and card board, such as butcher paper, beer cartons etc., are harder to break down in water. Catalogs, magazines and other publications are fine in and of themselves, but some have a stringy, rubbery, sticky spine, which is also water resistant. Breaking down this kind of material in the mixing process can’t be done very well. Small fragments and strings of there materials are almost always present in the final mix. When using Papercrete containing the unwanted material in a finish, such as stucco or plaster, the unwanted fragment some times show up on the surface, but this is not the serious problem.

                   Papercrete’s additives can be,  

o   Cement

o   Sand

o   Fine earth

o   Clay

o   Fly ash

o   Powdered glass

o   Rice husk ash

                   Papercrete is having the following derivatives,

o   Fibrous concrete

o   Padobe

o   Fidobe

Fibrous concrete

 Fibrous concrete is a mixture of paper, Portland cement, water. There are no harmful by-products or excessive energy use in the production of papercrete. While it can be argued that the Portland cement is not environmental friendly, it is not used in all types of papercrete, and when it represents a fairly small percentage of cured material by volume. One of the most advantageous properties of papercrete is the way paper fibres hold the Portland cement or perhaps the way Portland cement adheres to paper fibres. When the water added to the paper and Portland cement drains from the mix, it comes out almostly clear. There is no messy and eco-unfriendly cement sediment left on the ground, running in to waterways etc., papercrete can be produced using solar energy. The only power needed is for mixing and pumping water. Its R-value is rated between 2.0-3.0 per inch. Since walls in a one or two storey house will be 12-16 inches thick, the long-term energy savings of building with papercrete will be a bonanza for the homeowner and the environment.

Padobe       

Padobe has no Portland cement. It is a mix of paper, water, earth with clay. Here clay is the binding material instead of using cement, earth is used in this type of brick. This earth should have clay content more than 30%. With regular brick, if the clay content is too high the brick may crack while drying, but adding paper fiber to the earth mix strengthens the drying block and give some flexibility which helps to prevent cracking.

Fidobe

Fidobe is like padobe, but it may contain other fibrous material.