[Strawbale] Magnesite

[Jeff Ruppert]

Magnesite, or magnesium oxide (Mg0), was used by the Chinese as the 
binder in the mortar for the Great Wall.  It has been referred to as 
Chinacrete.  They still use it for roadways by spraying it onto gravel 
roads.  It hardens and creates a stable roadway.

We looked into it with a client who wanted to do prefab bale walls.  He 
found this stuff and looked into making SIPs with it.  It is somewhat 
flexible, very durable, and hard.  He had found a source near Chicago 
and they were experimenting it to make SIP panels with really thin skins.

The point is, it has been around for a VERY long time and is similar in 
chemical composition to lime (CaO).  You can use it in plaster, floors, 
roads, etc.

Jeff Ruppert, P.E.
Principal

Odisea LLC
Engineering and Consulting

Front Range Office 		West Slope Office		
1731 15th St. #105		209 Clark Ave.
Boulder, CO  80302		Paonia, CO 81428
303.443.4335			970.948.5744
303.443.4355 f			1.866.795.6699 f
jeff at odiseanet.com
www.odiseanet.com