Variations on the theme of concrete - scientists improve DSP

In concrete, though not so long history, like brick and wood, but without it now can not do any one building - the foundation, floors, walkways and more. And if, for most of us, the concrete - a mixture of cement, sand, gravel and water in certain proportions, for the scholars - a springboard for experiments. What is interesting, the results of many experiments actually put into practice, not just in the laboratory. In our selection of assembled just such advanced concrete with unusual characteristics.

flexible concrete

In Singapore Research Center at Nanyang Technological University group Scientists led by Professor Chu Jian has developed a completely new type of concrete - flexible (ConFlexPave).

Normal concrete has high strength, especially when it comes to concrete, reinforced fittings. However, the fragility of it does not eliminate even the reinforcement, and bending causes cracking and gradual destruction. In addition, heavy concrete, which creates certain difficulties in the process of laying boards.

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Flexible concrete designed Singaporeans, stronger and more resistant to wear and can significantly deflect due to the special composition.

The standard sand, gravel and cement polymer microfibers are added - the finest synthetic fibers distribute load uniformly and allow to produce thin and lightweight road plates. Thus strength concrete can be obtained compared with the metal. Being flexible, it is practically not subject to wear. This is especially true on highways or pedestrian paths in areas of high permeability. Flexible boards are tested on the stand, during which he proved the increased flexibility of the material and its resistance to the direct physical impact.

It is important that the use of flexible concrete will greatly simplify life road services - to reduce the complexity of laying process, partial replacement of cloth will not require stopping traffic. Test drive the new product goes directly to the territory of the university complex - there is a huge pedestrian load, and road traffic is impressive. Subsequently scientists plan pick composition plates, because of the particular operating conditions, at the stage of manufacture for optimum performance.

Illuminated Concrete

A Mexican doctor Jose Carlos Rubio, from the University of Michoacan, was more interested in the properties of cement and concrete as an essential component. He has developed a fundamentally new astringent, with a lifetime of about a century, and even with the light-emitting properties. For decades research he manages to change the microstructure of the cement by introducing therein the fluorescent additive. On such a cement is obtained not only a homogeneous solution without the characteristic "flakes." These crystalline structures formed on the surface, degrade the characteristics of concrete and contribute to accelerated destruction of the upper layer. To prevent crystallization, Rubio and put into the cement additive, and at the same time received a bonus decorative lighting.

During the day, a concrete accumulates solar energy, and with the onset of darkness begins to give it away, creating a stunning lighting effects.

Unlike plastic, which is made of a large part of the fluorescent materials, with a lifetime of several years, highlighting concrete resistant to UV rays and will last a century.

New cement can be used both alone and in mixtures with other materials, for the construction of various facilities and pavements. In terms of environmental luminous outperforms conventional cement - it includes, mainly, chalk and clay, and the "return" during its production - in the form of water vapor. The color range of the material at this point is represented in blue and green, and the brightness can be adjusted to track not dazzled pedestrians and cyclists. The researcher plans - to try to connect glowing particles with other building basics and get new building materials, with the effect of illumination.

Concrete waste

Utilization of precipitation after wastewater treatment has long become a global problem for many countries, which is aggravated by stringent environmental regulations. The cheapest option - waste disposal - is illegal, as in the sediment a large number of chemical substances that can degrade soil indicators. Sewage treatment enterprises to solve the problem of Malaysia helped scientists decided that disappear so many nutrients, which are in dire need other industries, stupid.

Researchers in the National Institute of Technology MARA learned to add the powder obtained from the precipitate, instead of part of cement in concrete production.

The process of obtaining preforms simplest: precipitate formed into pellets, which are dried and, for the final disposal of the liquid, calcined. Dry billet is thoroughly ground and sieved to give a homogeneous powder which is subsequently added to the concrete mix. Proportions vary based on the desired grade of concrete - the maximum fraction of powder in the cement is 15%, actual gain as the average strength concrete and high classes. Scientists believe that the replacement of the cement powder from sewage sludge (DSWP - domestic waste sludge powder) increases the strength of the concrete and reduces its permeability and salinity. Development is recognized as promising as taking into account the needs of the construction industry in the cement, even a small proportion of third-party agents, and even waste products, both economically and environmentally profitable.

Blocks from HEMPCRETE

Of course, not gone away and the Americas - was based on MIT organized crowdsourcing platform (resource for bringing fresh ideas and a wide range of performers). There also appeared interesting from a practical point of view Nutsena Chad project. Private designer developed the building blocks of HEMPCRETE, produced by 3D-printing.

The basis unit of hemp hemp (fire) as mineral filler - sand, binder - Portland cement. Using organics as a principal component, allowing to significantly reduce the proportion of binder actually reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. As for technical characteristics of the blocks obtained solid, with a high sound absorption coefficient and low thermal conductivity, but still with antiseptic properties (resistant to mildew and rot).

If it was only about a block of raw materials, nothing new designer has invented: and straw adobe known for several centuries, and from the more modern arbolita wood chips HEMPCRETE far left.

However, another feature in the method of production, and the internal structure - the block is not solid, hemp-cement mixture during solidification forms a mesh that resembles bone, structure.

As a result, the unit turns easy, but the most durable, and in the printing process actually lay the cavity under all networks (electricity, communications). The form is also arbitrary units - they may be manufactured as a typical bars and curly.

Nutsenom applied ultrasonic cavitation can be used as a basis not only hemp fire, but also any organic composites, as raw materials in the recycling process as much as possible crushed. To prove that HEMPCRETE did not concede more common materials in strength, exceeding many of them in terms of environmental performance, with like-minded developer plans to use them for the construction of a large houses. Taking into account that the already mentioned arbolit has been successfully used in the private housing construction is unlikely to units on the basis of the fires will fail. In any case, the more environmentally friendly materials, the better for all of us.

Innovations affect all areas of our lives - it is possible grow chaiseAnd instead of a bulky sofa set in a small apartment multimission module. Instead of chandeliers and sconces are already using glowing wallpaperAs well as a garden - cardboard house. And watch the video a glass houseAlso not very typical, but no less attractive structure.