Filling material

Abstract

A dry mix of a thermally insulating fill material for backfilling and/or filling. The fill material includes a cement-based binder and a thermally insulating material, and the thermally insulating material is newly foamed monograin polystyrene beads.

Claims

1. A dry mix of a thermally insulating fill material for at least one of backfilling and filling, the fill material comprising: a cement-based binder; and a thermally insulating material; wherein the thermally insulating material is newly manufactured foamed monograin polystyrene beads, recycled polystyrene beads not being used; and wherein the fill material is an earth-moist mixture, the earth-moist mixture existing when the fill material can be formed into a sphere that retains a spherical shape and only disintegrates when pressed from above.

2. A dry mix according to claim 1, wherein an average size of the polystyrene beads is in a range of 2-12 mm.

3. A dry mix according to claim 2, wherein the average size of the polystyrene beads is in a further range of 3-5 mm.

4. A dry mix according to claim 1, wherein a density of the polystyrene beads is in a range of 8-40 kg/m.sup.3.

5. A dry mix according to claim 4, wherein the density of the polystyrene beads is in a further range of 12-18 kg/m.sup.3.

6. A dry mix according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the binder amount is between 20 and 125 kg/m.sup.3.

7. A dry mix according to claim 6, wherein the amount of the binder amount is between 45 to 85 kg/m.sup.3.

8. A dry mix according to claim 1, wherein the binder comprises Portland cement.

9. A dry mix according to claim 1, wherein the binder comprises amorphous silica as an additive.

10. A dry mix according to claim 1, wherein the fill material contains no foam component and no air-entraining agents.

11. A method for at least one of backfilling and filling using a dry mixture of a heat-insulating fill material, comprising: mixing the dry mixture with water to form a semi-dry mixture, the dry mixture comprising a cement-based binder and a thermally insulating material comprising newly manufactured foamed monograin polystyrene beads, recycled polystyrene beads not being used; and introducing the semi-dry mixture into a space to be one of filled and backfilled; wherein the fill material in the space is present with a sphere packing structure, with the polystyrene beads being binder-wetted and air is present in interstices of the polystyrene beads; and wherein the fill material is an earth-moist mixture, the earth-moist mixture existing when the fill material can be formed into a sphere that retains a spherical shape and only disintegrates when pressed from above.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising covering a surface of the one of the backfill and the fill with one of an air-permeable material and a breathable material after the introducing operation.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the one of the air permeable material and the breathable material is one of a tarpaulin and a foil.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fill material contains no foam component and no air-entraining agents.

15. A backfill or fill made according to a method, the method comprising: mixing a dry mixture of a heat-insulating fill material with water to form a semi-dry mixture, the dry mixture comprising a cement-based binder and a thermally insulating material comprising newly manufactured foamed monograin polystyrene beads, recycled polystyrene beads not being used; and introducing the semi-dry mixture into a space to be one of filled and backfilled; wherein the fill material in the space is present with a sphere packing structure, with the polystyrene beads being bonded by the binder and air is present in interstices of the polystyrene beads; and wherein the fill material is an earth-moist mixture, the earth-moist mixture existing when the fill material can be formed into a sphere that retains a spherical shape and only disintegrates when pressed from above.

16. The backfill or fill according to claim 15, wherein the sphere packing structure is open-celled.

17. The backfill or fill according to claim 15, wherein the fill material contains no foam component and no air-entraining agents.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a schematic illustration of the structure of the applied fill material, the following drawings are attached:

(2) FIG. 1: Schematically illustrates the lattice structure of the applied fill material in a 3D view.

(3) FIG. 2: Schematically illustrates the lattice structure of the applied fill material with a section through the binder adhering to the respective sphere.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the spheres 1 of the fill material wetted with binder form a packing of spheres with a random arrangement (irregular packing) of the wetted spheres 1. Intermediate spaces remain between the wetted spheres 1, which spaces are connected to one another.

(5) During curing, heated air can rise in the interstices within the sphere packing and escape on its surface.

(6) After the filling or backfilling has hardened, a layer of another material is usually applied to it, which closes or seals the surface of the filling or backfilling. When backfilling a pool, this is done using the reinforced concrete ring anchor. The pool floor plate is covered by the pool itself.

(7) In FIG. 2 a few wetted spheres 1 of the sphere packing are shown. The monograin spheres 2 made of polystyrene can have a more or less pronounced binder coating 3. The binder coating 3 can enclose the mono-grain spheres 2 or be present only partially on them, in particular in the contact area of the mono-grain spheres 2.

(8) However, a complete coating of the monograin spheres 2 with binder is preferred.

(9) A dye is preferably added to the binder. Complete wetting or thorough mixing can be visually recognized from the color contrast of the colored binder to the preferably white polystyrene beads. After the binder has hardened, the sphere packing structure is retained, with the polystyrene beads being connected to one another by the hardened binder, air being present in the interstices of the polystyrene beads connected by the binder.