- Gypsum is one of the important and extensively used as a building material.
- Chemically, it is the sulphate of calcium with two molecules of water.
- It is crystalline substance very sparingly soluble in water and soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid, but it is soluble in sulphuric acid.
- It contains 79.1% of calcium sulphate and 20.9% water.
- In India, maximum production of it is in regions like Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. It supply about 90% of the annual produce of country.
- The common impurities in it are sand, chalky matter, illuminite and anhydrite.
Use of Gypsum:
Different Uses of gypsum in construction are as follows:
- One uses it as a retarder in portland cement. Since it controls the setting time of portland cement.
- It is also used as a raw material for manufacturing of ammonium sulphate and sulphuric acid.
- One uses it as a dental and surgical plaster and as a filler in paint, paper and rubber industries
- But the important use of it is as a building material where one consumes 90% of the yearly output.
Properties of Gypsum:
The following are the various important properties:
- Gypsum serves as a good sound absorbers.
- It is Incombustible.
- It possess relatively small bulk density.
- Gypsum has ability to retard the spread of fire. Hence it can give the fire protection up to two hours.
- It is flexible in nature. Also it is easy to work with as any wood based products.
- It is light in weight and hence offer economy in structural costs and transportation.
- Gypsum provides smooth surface.
- It is a non-resonant material.
- It is strong, durable and dimensionally stable.
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