Today I did some experimentation with an 18 pound package of cellulose insulation, made to be blown into an attic.
My concrete mixer will mix two 80# sacks of gravel mix, making about two cubic feet of concrete per batch. I put three gallons of water in the mixer and then added almost half the package of cellulose. The water disappeared as the cellulose made a moist lump in the mixer. I added a couple more gallons of water and got a mix that was flowing a bit. I have not tried papercrete in this mixer before so was not sure of the ratios, but tossed in about five pounds of portland cement because that looked about right.
After I let the mix churn for a few minutes I poured it into a waiting mold that holds a calculated 2.63 cubic feet. As expected the batch filled the mold about 2/3 full. I quickly mixed about 1/2 a mixer batch and topped off the mold. By this time the first batch had drained and started to settle a bit. I smoothed off the mold and cleaned the mixer.
After about an hour I went back to remove the mold. The papercrete had settled from 7.5" to 5.5" and had slightly shrunk away from the mold, which lifted off easily. The shrinkage so far is comparable to what I was getting when mixing office paper with a power washer. The cost is considerably higher. Tomorrow I'll see if what is left of the package is enough for another mold full.
-- spaceman All opinions expressed or implied are subject to change without notice upon receipt of new information.
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