Alabaster

The very word "alabaster" came to us from Greece. It suggests that such material was also used in antiquity. In ancient Greece, so called calcite( calcium carbonate).Now this word basically serves for the naming of gypsum - calcium diaquasulphate.

It is not clear to many: what is the difference between gypsum and alabaster? Gypsum is very soft, it can easily be scratched even with a fingernail. Calcite is more durable, it can only be damaged by using steel tools. Calcite alabaster reacts with hydrochloric acid, the gypsum in this case will be inert. In our time, the term "alabaster" has no clarification: it is calcite or gypsum, so it is always a question of a cast of gypsum.

Features of gypsum plaster

Today the production of gypsum alabaster goes through heat treatment of natural two-water gypsum. It is kept at a temperature of 150 - 180 ° in special apparatus, where the composition of the alabaster becomes a semi-aquatic gypsum. This product is ground into a fine powder. The degree of milling affects the scope of the substance. The smallest fraction is a medical plaster, a larger one is a molding gypsum, and the largest is a building plaster.

Technical characteristics of alabaster

Scope of application

Alabaster has found its application in everyday life and in construction. The main direction is construction and repair work. Since it is an excellent binder component, construction alabaster is used to seal cracks, seams, leveling surfaces, for example, ceilings. In the photo and video you can see how easy it is to perform these works and how great the result looks. Just remember that it does not withstand high humidity, because of this shortage it can only be used in rooms with a moisture content of not more than 60%.To improve its resistance to moisture, the surface treated with alabaster is covered with paint and varnish pastes. If an alabaster dough is to be applied to a surface that absorbs moisture strongly, it must be pre-treated with a primer. Often, alabaster is used as an additive capable of accelerating the setting of the solution.

Advantages of alabaster

Among the main advantages of alabaster is its ecological safety. This material from natural ingredients can not harm your health. It perfectly absorbs noise, does not burn, does not let water pass. Its fire resistance allows it to create fireproof coatings. Coatings with alabaster look smooth, resistant to cracking.

Features of using

Alabaster is easy to use. However, you need to do everything very quickly, because the alabaster solution starts to harden after 6 minutes after dilution with water. And after half an hour it will become completely solid. Therefore, those who have already encountered such a problem and wondered: how to plant alabaster, you should listen to recommendations and make solutions portionwise. After a thickened solution is not suitable. Additives in the form of carpentry or wallpaper paste a little prolong the life of the solution, and you will have a little more time to work.

Preparation of the mortar in many ways resembles the principle of working with wallpaper glue. It is necessary to mix the alabaster in the proportion of 1 kg of the substance to 0.6 liters of water. The finished solution should resemble sour cream. Apply it immediately after stirring, breaks can not be done. Feedback from those who often use this substance, suggest that immediately after the end of the work, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the entire instrument and capacity. Otherwise, the rapid solidification of the alabaster will render them unfit for further use.