When we think of concrete, the first thing that comes to mind is the hard nature of the material that is used to make our homes stronger.
However, what if I told you that researchers are working on making this hard concrete flexible.?
You would think that this was some kind of joke, but researchers at the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne have actually developed a new process of making concrete flexible.?
Conventional cement is made using ¡®Portland cement, which results in the hard nature that we are all familiar with. However, this one incorporates fly ash -- a byproduct of coal when it is burnt to generate electricity.?
Now in this, the researchers have incorporated synthetic fibres into the concrete mix. What¡¯s more is that the process used by the researchers doesn¡¯t require heat to mix it, which not only makes it environmentally friendly but also require less energy (36 percent to be exact) to turn into the final product. The process also results in lower carbon emissions -- 76 percent less to be precise.?
The fibres in the concrete mixture allow it to hold on with multiple hair-sized fractures, instead of breaking into pieces like conventional concrete -- thus bringing in some flexibility.
Now you might be wondering why in the god¡¯s name would you want a flexible concrete? Well, in places where earthquakes are far common, this concrete can help them make stronger homes that can withstand the quakes with ease. According to Dr Behazad Nematollahi, one of the researchers behind the flexible concrete, it has the ability to bend 400 times more than regular concrete.
While the concept of flexible concrete isn¡¯t new, mass production and application has been quite expensive. However, the material that is being used to make this is readily available everywhere on this planet, it can be easily mass-produced, which could help in keeping the costs to a minimum.?