Hopes Build for Eco-concrete
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20
At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400ยบ and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.
Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.
Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.
Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20
At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400ยบ and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.
Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.
Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.
Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.
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