Clay

Clastic sedimentary rock rich in hydrated silicates, known for its plasticity and its ability to absorb water. It is primarily used in the brick and ceramic industries.

Clay is a soil natural material composed of extremely fine particles, smaller than two micro centimeters. Thanks to his chemical-physical features, it can absorb up for 70% of its weight in water, turning into a moldable and plastic mass that can be easily shape. Once subjected to elevate temperatures, clay loses all its water, hardens and permanently retains the shape it has before firing making it impossible to reshape. Another material used in architecture is raw earth, clay earth used to realize buildings with bricks. In this case clay is mixed with specific proportions of sand, sand, gravel, silt, and a stabilizer such as lime creating a moist mixture suitable for construction.

Features:

Low, economics and environmental prices
Breathability and hygrothermal comfort
Thermal insulation
Acoustic insulation

Applications:

Plasters and coatings
Bricks and interior partitions

Breathability (μ)

5-10

Ability of a material to be passed through by water vapor
Protect yourself from condensation and mold: the lower its value, the greater your ability to dispose of internal moisture
Thermal Conductivity (λ)

0,6 W/mK

The ability of a substance to transmit heat
To defend against the cold: the lower its value, the greater its insulation capacity
Specific Heat (Cp)

1.000 J/KgK

Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree
To protect against heat: the higher its value, the slower it accumulates heat
Density (ρ)

1.700 Kg/m

How is the mass of a material distributed in the space it occupies
To defend against heat: the greater its value, the greater its ability to defend against heat

Low economic and environmental costs

The land is the cheapest and most widespread building material. Energy consumption during its extraction, processing and installation is very low and does not require long and expensive transport. For these reasons, environmental costs are also significantly lower than in any other traditional building.

Reciclability

The earth can be completely reclaimed, kneaded, and reworked at every end of a building's life cycle, allowing for virtually infinite reuse.

Breathability and hygrothermal well-being

Typically, a very porous material such as clay is also very breathable, meaning it is easily passed through by humid air. The more breathable a material is, the lower the chance of condensation and resulting mold on its surface.

Thermal insulation

Earth, by itself, does not have a great thermal insulation capacity, however, the porous microstructure of this material helps to hinder heat propagation. To improve thermal insulation, bricks lightened with wood fiber or straw offer a significant increase in thermal performance.

During the hottest hours of the day, the earth accumulates heat, which is subsequently released when the internal temperature drops. This property makes the material not only an effective heat accumulator, but also an ally in maintaining cool and constant room temperatures during summer.

Acoustic insulation

The porous structure of this material also promotes sound insulation. To achieve the same sound insulation performance as raw earth, you need to use twice the thickness of baked perforated bricks.

Applications

Due to their chemical and physical properties, clay and raw earth are excellent materials for renovation and restoration of inhabited spaces where people remain in the home during construction.

Plasters and coats

Plasters and wall finishes made with clay-based mixtures offer advantages in breathability and durability, while also contributing to thermal and acoustic insulation.

Bricks and interior partitions

Clay or raw earth bricks can be used in construction of load-bearing or non-load-bearing walls. When used to separate indoor spaces, clay partitions walls provide good sound and thermal insulation. Clay brick construction techniques are accessible even to those without professional building experience, making this material especially suitable for DIY self-built homes on a family scale.

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