Architecture and Design announced last week that a carbon-based concrete additive won the Civil Contractors Federation environment award. The technology uses carbon nanotubes to give concrete a flexural strength 200 to 300 times that of steel.
Business & Technology
From self-cleaning and self-repairing to bendable and glowing, concrete is constantly evolving, regularly bringing technologically improved products to market.
Using Bacteria to Help “Heal” Concrete
Scientists in the UK develop a self-healing concrete that uses bacteria to plug cracks.
Cement Has Now Been Successfully Reinforced Using Plastic Waste
Researchers have successfully reinforced concrete with plastic waste, paving way for the first large-scale sustainable construction practice.
A New Technology Turns Iron Ore Waste Into Cement
An Australian company is harvesting blast furnace waste and converting it into a new product to make cement in China, where 60% of the world’s iron waste is found.
Halifax Startup Recycles Carbon Dioxide for Greener Concrete Products
CarbonCure Technologies, a Halifax-based startup that has developed the technology to recycle carbon dioxide gas back into solid concrete.
Smart Cement Revolutionizes Well Casings
A researcher is trying to give cement sensing properties with applications in the oil industry.
New Formula for High-Strength Shotcrete to Protect Tunnels from Fires and Terrorist Attacks
The science magazine Rubin reports that engineers at Germany’s Ruhr-Universität Bochum have developed a shotcrete that can render tunnels, bridges and other structures more resistant against fires and explosions.
Using Muons from Cosmic Rays to Find Degrading Concrete
A new report from Phys.org explains how subatomic particles known as muons are being used to probe the structure of concrete. This is a useful ability because building materials such as pipes and concrete that are part of our energy infrastructure corrode and wear thin or degrade over time. Scientists were seeking a better way to be warned of infrastructure deterioration before it becomes a problem and found that these particles work.
Geopolymer Concrete Shows Extreme Fire-Proof Qualities
Concrete made using an industrial by-product has shown better fire endurance than traditional concrete when exposed to fires of nearly 1000 degrees Celsius.
Materials Scientists Make Martian Concrete
A research team has created a form of concrete that, remarkably, can be made without water and using materials that are widely available on Mars.
