2013 - Volume #37, Issue #4, Page #05
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Secret Formula Discovered For 2,000-Year-Old Concrete
One of mankind’s most durable creations was concrete poured 2,000 years ago by the ancient Romans. Many bridge pilings and harbor breakwaters made by the Romans out of concrete are still in perfectly good shape all over Europe and the Mediterranean, despite centuries of constant pounding by seawater.The most common blend of modern concrete - 200-year-old Portland cement - has a service life of less than 50 years in seawater. So an international team of researchers recently set out to analyze the mineral components of a Roman concrete breakwater sample dating back to 38 B.C. They discovered that the secret to the concrete’s long life was its mixture of lime and volcanic rock. When packed into underwater wooden forms, seawater instantly triggered a hot chemical reaction, hydrating the lime and binding water molecules into its structure, creating an exceptionally stable building material. This “secret” may be the key to creating longer lasting structures today. Bloomberg News
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