1. General

1.1 Statistics

A recent study showed that in 2000 the percentage of various lightweight aggregates was distributed as follows, according to the cubage of concrete manufactured:

• polystyrene ;

• foam concrete ;

• expanded clay and shale ;

• pumice ;

• perlite ;

• vermiculite ;

• expanded glass.

The proportions vary widely from one country to another. In France, the products that account for the largest volumes of lightweight ready-mix concrete are :

• polystyrene concrete...