UNITY UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

AGROSTONE

NAME- EYOSIYAS ABIY

ID- UU67250R

DATE - SPE 4
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INTRODUCTION

Agro stone (also called compressed fiber bored) panel is composed of agricultural/industrial wastes
and/or lightweight natural minerals as fillers magnesium-based chemicals as a binder and fiberglass as
reinforcement.

Production technology

• The technology of agro stone panel production has been practiced in Asia and Latin America

• The Chinese agro stone technology utilizes:

- Agricultural wastes as filler,

-Chemical raw materials as binder and

-Fiber glass as reinforcement

The agricultural materials have partly reduced by light weigh mineral fillers and the selected materials
are cheap, light and easily available in the country.

The agricultural raw materials can be from different sources as long as its not chemically reactive and
reduces workability. Preferably, raw materials with high tensile strength such as bagasse are important.

Agrostone production technology in Ethiopia

• Agrostone technology utilizes several admixture in a very negligible amount to enhance the
physical property of the products and make it adaptable to different environmental conditions.

• Ethiopia is endowed with a variety of industrial minerals that can be utilized by the agrostone
products.

• Light weigh mineral fillers are largely available in the country such as pumice, red ash and
diatomite.(diatomite: powdery rock with industrial uses)

High quality magnetite deposit is also available in the country and efforts are underway in developing
MgO from this mine.
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• Magnesium chloride is also found in the denakil depression, at the country.

 • It is hosted by potash minerals and tens of millions of potash ore is found in the area.

• Moreover, magnesium chloride is found at the mouth of hot brines spreading over the surface.
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Type of products

The main agrostone products are;

• Partition boared

the partition boards have variable length and thickness but constant width. The length of the boards can
vary to a maximum of 3.5meters and there are 10cm and 20cm thick boards.

• Relief

Hundred of different types of decoration items are available and any one can bring his own design and
produce reliefs. The relifes include roman colons, roofing material, wall boards, corner lists etc…

• Doors

• IT IS COMPOSED OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE,MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE,IRON SULPHATE

HEPTAHYDRATE,FOAMING AGENT ETC.

• AGROSTONE FORMED BY COMPRESSED MARNEL ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION STONE(92%-

96%) MATERIAL A SLIGHT DIFFRENCE IN COLOUR BETWEEN FIN

• AGROSTONE stones have a natural aesthetic sense with a glossing beauty. It is suitable for
families and ideal for various commercial uses given its superior product characteristics.

• It has various colors, can be naturally integrated with a wide variety of designs.

APPLICATION

• It’s a construction material that can be used both on interior and exterior walls.

• Its wide range of application includes in kitchen, bathroom, shopping centers, etc… as floor tiles,
as wall tiles and as countertops.

Addis Ababa agrostone production center has adopted this technology based on llocally available raw
4 materials which are presented below;

• A.Filler
 • The fillers could be agricultural products or lightweight natural minerals like pumice and
diatomite.

• Addis Ababa Agrostone production center uses an agricultural product ,Bagassse which is
available from a number of inland sugar factories.

it has two main advantage;

- high tensile strength and elasticity,which helps to provide reinforcement

- it has high resistance against solvent and chemical attacks

- the availability of baggase will increase significantly as the country plans to boost the sugar production
by sevenfold

B.Binder

• Agrostone panel uses Magnesium Oxychloride cement (MOC),also known as sorel cement as a
binder.

• MOC is a non-hydraulic cement which is formed by mixing powdered Magnesium oxide with
concentrated solution of magnesium chloride

Physical properties

• Its Water and acid resistant and sound proof

• It can carry load weighing 7.3 times and its own weight without bending.

• It has good resistance for single point bending load.

• It is shock and impact resistant.

• It can withstand fire up to 118 minutes.

• It has good resistance for single point hanging load.

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Advantages of Agrostone panel
 • Agrostone has several benefits;

-low cost production

-unlike the other traditional building materials Agrostone panel doesn’t require cement plastering for
finishing works.
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-reduces construction coast and saves time.

-improves the strength of the building and beauty of the house.

-does not consume much water during construction.

its production utilizes energy efficient and uncomplicated machinery.

-its possible to produce it at different sizes, shapes and at different forms.

-its lightweight property enables reduction pf costs of building structures.

-its quite easy to assemble and cover large area of wall with in short period of time.

- Enviromentaly friendly.

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