Improved Concrete

Researchers at Brunel University London and Mutah University in Jordan have recently developed a way of making “stronger” concrete meant to hold up to extreme temperatures. They discovered that by adding sodium acetate to concrete mix, it renders the concrete more resistant to extremely hot or cold conditions.

Traditionally, it’s difficult to preserve concrete in cold weather because micro-cracks easily form where the water in the mixture freezes. Very hot temperatures can weaken bonds between the cement and aggregates in concrete, also leading to weakened material. By adding sodium acetate, concrete absorbs less water and increases its compressive strength, leading to stronger concrete that will require less maintenance in the long run.

Concrete has numerous uses in our field and many others: it’s an important building product, a sustainable material for residential and commercial projects, is fire resistant and easy to shape, and is typically easy to repair. By making traditional concrete stronger, the many projects that depend on concrete would benefit by becoming more stable.

To read more about the details of this research, see the article on the New Civil Engineer website.