7 replies to this topic

[Xanuri]

Has anyone ever tried combining other building materials with Hydrostone, to reduce the overall .27% expansion?

 

I was curious if combining Mortar mix and Hydrostone Mix would potentially offset each other, since Mortar shrinks and Hydrostone expands!?

[dspdrew]

Usually mixing anything with Hydrostone will keep it from curing. I think I actually tried exactly that one time. I'll find the post and link it here (http://www.formicult...1-2016/?p=11607). Particle size is a big factor. I think as long as the particle size is large enough it doesn't interfere with the Hydrostone chemical composition. I think what happens, is there is enough volume of pure Hydrostone to still cure properly. This means mixing rocks, gravel, or sand (as long as its not too fine), is not a problem. In fact it actually makes the overall piece even stronger.

Edited by dspdrew, March 17 2019 - 5:47 PM.
Added link

[drtrmiller]

The mixed components need to have compatible chemistry, which is often not the case.  The addition of an aggregate like sand or gravel which doesn't change the chemistry will not generally inhibit curing except if too much is added.

[Xanuri]

Is there any proven methods for reducing the Hydrostone expansion? I was able to resolve breaking Acrylic boxes by providing expansion in an additional direction, however stress fractures still occurred in my testing, so I need to reduce it a bit more. would adding fine grain sand help?

[drtrmiller]

Nothing you add will reduce the expansion potential of the material.  There are other gypsum stone materials that expand less, like Ultracal 30.

[Xanuri]

what properties am I loosing by using Ultracal 30 over hydrostone?

[Xanuri]

what about this stuff?

Jennifer's Mosaics White Powdered Grout (Sanded)

[dspdrew]

Here's some messing around I tried years ago.

 

http://www.formicult...1-2016/?p=11607