Viscosity-Enhancing Nanomaterials May Double Service Life of Concrete

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 16:07 in Mathematics & Economics

(PhysOrg.com) -- Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology are patenting a method that is expected to double the service life of concrete. The key, according to a new paper*, is a nano-sized additive that slows down penetration of chloride and sulfate ions from road salt, sea water and soils into the concrete. A reduction in ion transport translates to reductions in both maintenance costs and the catastrophic failure of concrete structures. The new technology could save billions of dollars and many lives.

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