Uses of ECA


What is ECA® - Light Expanded Clay Aggregate, or what is an Expanded Clay Aggregate?

ECA® is an acronym for Lightweight expanded clay aggregate. 

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate or Expanded Clay Aggregate – ECA® is manufactured by firing the natural mining clay to around 1,200 °C (2,190 °F) in a rotary kiln. The yielding gases expand the clay with a popcorn effect by thousands of tiny bubbles forming during heat, producing a honeycomb structure resulting from interconnecting voids within the aggregate. Expanded Clay Aggregate – ECA®  has an approximately round shape - spherical due to circular movement in the kiln and is available in different sizes and densities in both rounds and crushed forms in the sizes of 0-30 mm for versatile applications.

Essential properties of Expanded Clay Aggregate – ECA® starts with lightness, 100% inert, durable, sterile, thermal insulation by low thermal conductivity coefficient (as low as 0.097 W/mK), soundproofing characteristics or acoustic insulation property offering high acoustic insulation, moisture impermeability, being incompressible under permanent pressure and gravity loads, not decomposing in severe conditions, fire resistance as per EURO CLASS A-1, a pH of approximately 7, freezing and melting resistance, easy movement and transportation, lightweight backfill and finishing, reduction of construction dead load and lateral earthquake load, being perfect sweet soilless media for Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Urban Trees, Landscaping, Horticulture, Agriculture, Vertical gardens, plants as a drainage material, root zone and mulching material, plant-growing substrate and as a material for drainage and filtration.

How to use expanded clay pebbles or ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates 

Typical uses of ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates are concrete blocks structural and nonstructural, concrete slabs, thermal and acoustic insulation, mortars and plasters, geotechnical fillings, lightweight concrete- structural and non-structural, water treatment, hydroponics, aquaponics, and hydroculture.

ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates is a preferred media used across the globe for the plant-growing substrate.

ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates is a versatile material utilized in an increasing number of applications. It is used extensively to produce lightweight concrete, blocks, and precast or in cast structural elements (panels, partitions, bricks and light tiles) in the construction industry. ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates used in structural backfill against foundations, retaining walls, bridge abutments, etc. It can reduce earth pressure by 75% compared with conventional materials and increase ground stability while reducing settlement and land deformation. ECA® can drain the surface water and groundwater to control groundwater pressure. ECA® grouts can be used for flooring (finishing) and roofing with thermal and sound insulation.

ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates is also used in water treatment facilities for the filtration and purification of municipal wastewater and drinking water as well as in other filtering processes, including those for dealing with industrial wastewater and fish farms.

ECA® - Expanded Clay Aggregates has uses in agriculture and landscapes. It helps alter soil mechanics. It is used as a growing soilless medium in hydroponics systems since blended with other growing mediums such as soil and peat. It can improve drainage, retain water during periods of drought, insulate roots during frost and provide roots with increased oxygen levels promoting very vigorous growth. ECA® can be mixed with heavy soil to improve its aeration and drainage.

The product is also called as ECA® Haydite or ex-clay. In Europe, ECA® commenced in Denmark, Germany, Holland (Netherlands), UK and Middle East. There are several manufacturers and suppliers of Lightweight expanded clay aggregate and Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA®) in the world. 

Common uses of ECA are in concrete blocks, concrete slabs, geotechnical fillings, lightweight concrete, water treatment, hydroponics, aquaponics and hydroculture. ECA® or ECA® is a versatile material, and is utilized in an increasing number of applications. In the construction industry, it is used extensively in the production of lightweight concrete, blocks and precast or in cast structural elements (panels, partitions, bricks and light tiles). 

ECA® used in structural backfill against foundations, retaining walls, bridge abutments. ECA® can drainage the surface water and groundwater to control ground water pressure. ECA® grout can be used for flooring (finishing) and roofing with thermal and sound insulation. 

ECA® is also used in water treatment facilities for the filtration and purification of municipal wastewater and drinking water as well as in other filtering processes, including those for dealing with industrial wastewater and fish farms. ECA® has uses in agriculture and landscapes. It can alter soil mechanics. It is used as a growing medium in hydroponics systems, and blended with other growing mediums such as soil and peat to improve drainage, retain water during periods of drought, insulate roots during frost and provide roots with increased oxygen levels promoting very vigorous growth. 

ECA® can be mixed with heavy soil to improve its aeration and drainage. ECA® is useful for Landscaping, Petrochemicals – Oil and Gas, Roof Top Thermal Insulation, Sound or Acoustic Insulation, Roads and Bridges, Floating Bridges on Water Bodies, Floating Solar Power Plant or Panel, Landslide Prevention, Waterproofing, Outdoor Sports Courts, Railways & Metro Rail Projects, High Strength Structural Concrete, Precast Concrete Segments, Surface or Waste Water and Affluent Treatment and Water Conservation. 

Rivashaa Eco Design Solutions Private Limited has already been created a niche for itself on quality Lightweight expanded clay aggregate and Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA®) product, on time supply and guiding customers on effective usage of Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA®) or Lightweight expanded clay aggregate for best results. Expanded Clay Aggregate are preferred light weight aggregate used in place of conventional Charcoal, Coco peat, Diatomaceous earth, Growstones, Lavarock, Mineral wool, Perlite, Pumice, Rice hulls, Sand, Vermiculite and Wood fiber, Construction, Ceramic,Lightweight High Strength Structural Concrete, Designer Concrete applications, Acoustic Panels, Cladding Stones, Cladding Panels, Coatings, Paints, Precast and Prefab Industries, Thermal and Sound Insulation Concrete and Mortars, Landscaping, Agriculture, Horticulture, Construction Blocks and Tiles, Plastering, PCC, Waste Water treatment, Petrochemicals Oil and Gas Bedding Insulations, Geotechnical applications including lightweight backfill, Sunken Fill and Road/ Embankment Construction. The versatile application of Expanded Clay Aggregate in Geotechnical field includes construction of embankments/fills, Lightened embankments, Bridges abutments and alignment ramps, Embankments on landfill, Embankments on potentially unstable slopes, Containment structures ( Retaining Walls, Piers and waterfronts ), Foundations of buildings, Fill for underground structures, Buried tanks and pipes, Fill for below-ground cavities, water management including infiltration reservoirs, drainage and green roofs, Road construction, Landscaping, Landing beds and roofs for rock fall protection, lightweight structural and nonstructural concrete and the like.

ECA® is a boon to Construction, Infrastructure and Architect World. Application of Expanded Clay Aggregate or ECA® touches entire gamut of Construction and Infrastructure including Roads & Bridges, Oil & Gas, Civil engineering, Acoustic and Sound transfer coefficient components and products. 

ECA® today is a preferred aggregate for all corporate, EPC project consultants, Procurement professionals, Contractors & Builders, OEMs, Site Engineers, Architects, Process industries, Engineering & Construction companies and is also showcases the advantages of India to a global audience, while putting India in touch with global requirements in all fields.


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