There are two substantially different types of  cellular concrete.

Aerated autoclaved concrete, also known under the brand name "Ytong" or "Siporex" can only be produced in special plants. The highly explosive element hydrogen, as a reaction of cement and aluminum, is used as expanding agent to build pores or air in the concrete. This process is very hard to control, costs a lot of energy and requires a high investment in immobile machinery.

Foamed concrete, the other type of cellular light weight concrete, is produced with harmless foam, which is mixed into the slurry. Only a foaming agent and a foam generator combined with a mixer and pump are necessary in order to apply this technology. The foam produced with generator and agent is mixed into the prepared concrete slurry. This procedure is by far simpler and easier to control, needs less energy and is mobile. This technology allows the reduction of the gross density of concrete from 2400 kg/m³ as low as 200 kg/m³.

 

Foaming agents are classified by the basis of the active ingredient:

Protein based standard foaming agents are made by protein hydrolysis from animal proteins out of horn, blood, bones of cows, pigs and other remainders of animal carcasses. This leads not only to occasional variations in quality, due to the differing raw materials used in different batches, but also to a very intense stench of such foaming agents.

 

Surfactant based foaming agents are purely chemical products with constant quality, but until today with insufficient properties and low efficiency for the manufacturing of foam concrete.

 

Enzyme based foaming agents are a new and innovative foaming agent technology by Dr. Lucà & Partner. LithoFoam consists of highly active proteins of mainly vegetable origin and is not based on the unattractive protein hydrolysis. LithoFoam tops all other types of foaming agents with its superior quality and properties, a very competitive price and a neutral, technical odour.