Scientists at the Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building (TSUAB) have developed a method to increase the strength of concrete by 10% without changing its composition.
Instead of ordinary water, the solution uses activated liquid treated with a variable electromagnetic field. Experiments have shown that this water changes the reaction between the mineral alite in cement and water, which makes the concrete stronger at early stages of hardening.
The technology does not require expensive additives or changes in formulation, unlike approaches with nanofibers or premixes. According to Irina Kurzina, head of the project "Chemistry and Engineering of New Building Materials," the energy expended on water activation is hundreds of times less than when heating concrete mixtures with an electric cable. The first tests on the construction site are planned for this year in conjunction with an industrial partner.
The method makes it possible to reduce the cost and speed up construction, especially in difficult climatic conditions and during the construction of facilities with increased strength requirements — bridges, high-rise buildings and engineering structures.
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