Pumice.

How does the pumice form ?

The origin word of Pumice come from Italian and it had constituted weld for the other languages’ equivalent. Italy has been using the pumice mine for ages and consumed nearly all its pumice reserve. Italy is not the single country that consumed its pumice mine. It is possible to give an example about the pumice mine where it was consumed its reserve in our country. There has been a pumice mine in Sindelhoyuk village in Kayseri but as it was finished its reserve, pumice and bims are not produced.

Pumice stone is named different in other languages. Pumice stone is named as below in several countries ;

Italy	pietra pomice, pumicing
Germany	bimsstein, poliermittel, poliermittelstein
England	pumice, pumice stone
Holland	puimsteen
Spain	piedra pómez
France	pierre ponce, renovation
Portugal	pomice
Brazil	pedra, polimento
Turkey	*pomza, ponza, süngertaşı, nasır taşı, hasır taşı, topuktaşı*

Pumice is a kind of volcanic rock. It has a glassy shape. As a result of volcanic activities; two kinds of pumice produced; acidic pumice, basalt pumice. (Scoria, basaltic pumice) The colour of basalt pumice is dark and its specific weight rather more according to acidic pumice ( 1,2 - 2 gr/cm³ ) Asidic pumice is the most widespread and it is used a lot in the world. The colour of this pumice is light grey colour / dark white because of its own features as silisium, potassium and sodium. During the formation, because of sudden cold and sudden gas abandon of structure, it got rather pore shape. Nearly all the pores don’t have connections each other. Its density is changed between 0,5-1 gr/cm^{3 .} Because of much pore of pumice; its permeability is very low against to voice and heat. Hardness of pumice is about 5,5 – 6 according to mohs scale and the its SiO² ratio which formed its structure is between 60% - 75%. As a result of this ratio; pumice can even abrade the steel. Pumice doesn’t contain crystal water. pumice stone is ineffective as chemical.

In the depths of world outer covering, there have been magma pockets which was formed due to partial melting of basalt. In normal conditions, this magma sucks all the meterial which may be liquid or gas at very high pressure. (H²O, CO², F) With time, the pressure which is upon these magma pockets, decrease with the effect of ground movement. When the ground movement occurred, a volcanic explosion starts and these gas erupt from magma. When the gas disengaged, the stickiness of magma increases very rapidly and its solidification heat rises. In this way the magma foams, smashs and it forms the material which is known as pumice. This material is thrown from the crater with a big gas explosion and it disperses around.

Pumice is a kind of rock which was not able to find time to be crystallize because of very sudden cold. When it solidified, the steam which dissolved in it, is disengaged suddenly and it forms pore structure with eruption. When these conditions formed all kinds of lava may become pumice.

Obsidien, peks-tayn and perlite, are acceptable as own sort of pumice. The pumice is mostly compared with perlite from volcanic rock varieties like obsidien, peks-tayn and perlite. However pore shape of pumice, as it isn’t contain cyrstal water and as any process was not done, as it is used naturally, it provides much advantage to pumice. The natural lightness of pumice provides very big easiness to the pumice purification process from other impurities. This process can only be made by using the water because the pumice can remain over the water. For this reason it doesn't pollute the environment and it doesn't waste the energy sources in order to transform into other products.

`Pumice in History`

B.C.(Before Christ) in first century at architecture summary which is belong to Vitruvio the pumice is mentioned. Vitruvio defines it as "lighter than water" therefore he defines it as “swimmer" Also he explains that "it does not suck the water" and " it is hygienic" as well. The pumice stone was used usually at the construction of thermal bath and temple in the time of Romans. Some of these works of art can still be seen. The clearest examples which belong to these eras are; Roman Pantheonu and Hagia Soffia (or Ayia Sophia)church in Istanbul. It was started to use in Germany in Rhinenland city during 18 ^thcentury. In the vicinity of Europe any interest wasn’t showed to pumice until the near period. The pumice stone was started to use in California as a contruction material in the middle of 18 ^th century in U.S.A. Within last 30 years; by technological development and by increasing of environment sensitivity, have been getting its using widespread.

`Pumice using in Textile Sector`

The physical and chemical features of pumice (Na²O - K²O) are completely convenient to do stonewash for products at textile industry. By the development at washing techniques, the pumice stone was started to use to wash lighter fabrics as well. Also the bigger calibrated ponza stones were started to use at new generation washing machines.

The pumice which is used in this sector is the asidic one and its colour is white. It doesn't form stain at the product and it doesn't necessitate any cleaning. This situation doesn't cause any extra increase to the cost of textile product. However, the pumice which will be used must have been rounded and it must have been decomposed painstaking from all other impurities. Also the differences of the fabric which will be washed and because of the diversities of washing machines; the pumice must have been calibrated with different dimensions.

At the textile sector in order to do a well abrasion without giving damage to the product, we recommend our pumice which have no impurities, with high quality and painstaking workmanship was applied.

`Pumice using at Constructions`

The type of the pumice stone which is being utilized at constructions, named as bims and was passed from German to our language. It has perfect physical and mechanics features. The pumice is used usally in all the places where the perlite is used. The energy and investment that are used at perlite, as is not necessary at pumice; because of the need to protect energy and as it is durable against to the earthquake, the using of pumice products are continue to increase with a growing fast. Because of the distressing earthquakes that were occurred in our country ; the construction sector started to give importance to these products.

The pumice has as much density as the normal sand's and gravel 's ¹/₃ _- ²/_3 .The same situation is seen at the concretes as well which was made with pumice. At the constructions the pumice concrete provides economy, from the time and workmanship because of to be lighter than normal concrete. (Unit volume weight 800 - 900 kg / m³ ) Also it is possible to economize from the iron approximately 20 %, as the pumice will have decreased the burden which is added to the subbase.

Instead of sand-gravel mortar, using pumice stone mortar, because of lightness of mortar causes less loading to the mechanical strength, To use light weight products as block for down concrete and as wall component, causes less concrete needs and the time and workmanship advantages which was provided from to use orderly component causes decreasing at construction costs. Also at the walls which was constructed with the sort of these blocks; directly gypsum, ceramic and similar coatings are able to be applied. In the event of plaster applying, cracking and blistering aren’t occurred at the plaster at next years.

Heat permeability coefficient of pumice ( 0.33 - 0.80 kcal / mh 0^C ) is plus more 5 – 7 times than normal concrete. Because of its this feature, it provides considerable heat and energy economizing. Because of the pumice’s pore shape, heat insulation of construction components which were produced from pumice, too much more than the other construction components which were produced from the other materials. The constructions which were built by using the pumice productions, as it provides high heat insulation, it decreases considerably the expenses of heating and cooling. Also its perfection that shows for the voice insulation is offered to the constructions as an extra convenience.

The block for down concrete is a nother kind of light weight construction component that was produced from pumice and it is used at story concrete. Also the pumice stone is used at construction as subbase filling material and as roof insulation material as well.

The advantages at constructions that were provided by the pumice

With its shock sucking feature	Durable against to the earthquake.
Because of its lightness	Cheaper cost and less iron using at subbases.
Because of its highly durable against to the fire	Safer
Because of its high thermal durable	Less expenses at heating and cooling
Because of its maximum voice insulation	Convenience at place that is being used
It sticks well on the plaster. Because of easy workmanship.	Lower cost.
It is durable against to the getting iced.	It doesn’t damaged when the freezing occurred.

`Pumice using at Agriculture`

The volcanic soils with their natural structure, the decayed plants, with the supplement nourishment that were provided by animal and human life; it provides very convenient milieu in order to grow plant. 85 % pore shape of pumice stone causes to show light density features. Even the smallest pumice has a lot of both large and small pores. The soil’s situation becomes porer and it airs. Also it is used in order to improve features of soil and hinder to become lump of artificial fertilizer. The pumice is used as soil at greenhouses, in the region where sour orange grows, at the orchard, at the grass field and in all the agriculture regions. Their applying results are perfect.

The advantages at agriculture that were provided by the pumice

It provides perfect airing.

You are able to use it repeatedly.

It doesn’t get lump and shrink with time.

The nourishment adjustment's control is easy.

It doesn’t shelter the harmful elements as fungus and insect.

It is watered easily.

It doesn’t decay.

It doesn’t produce bad odors.

It is pH neutral. (6-7)

`Pumice using at Building Restoration`

Today, a lot of developped countries make the cleanliness by using the pumice stone, instead of sand at sandblasting method for clean the historical building’s dirtied fronts. The pumice stone gives opportunity to do the cleaning without giving damage to the surface of building, because of the pumice’s soft abrading feature.