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48 Comments
- fierypoobag, on 11/26/2008, -2/+25This IS concrete as we know it. Fly ash and other cementitious substitutes have been used in concrete for many years.
- DarthPoo, on 11/27/2008, -0/+12The point is using waste from one industry to reduce waste by another, because with no capital for new technologies, coal isn't going away anytime soon.
- farblong, on 11/27/2008, -0/+10People who would use fly don't usually realize that it is up to 100x more radioactive than soil and other aggregate. Fly ash concentrates Uranium and Thorium that occur naturally into the coal that it is derived from.
Mixed, the ash, and the resulting concrete, can be a source of Radon and direct Gamma radiation depending on the Coal source, and the end use.
Be careful folks.
Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1997/fs163-97/FS-163-97.ht ... - BradHAWK, on 11/27/2008, -0/+8Making concrete requires an enormous amount of energy, from, for example, coal plants.
The reason replaysmike is getting dugg down is because the coal plants are already producing the waste - that's why they call it waste - so using it won't require any additional energy/pollution. In fact, it'll reduce pollution because it'll displace some concrete, reducing energy consumption. - moulin1, on 11/26/2008, -2/+10What isn't "green" about concrete? Exactly how is concrete supposed to "generate carbon dioxide"? Why does replaysmike get dugg down for saying coal plants create pollution? You think they don't? This is nonsense!
- inactive, on 11/27/2008, -0/+6Wow they invented cinderblocks.
- akchrs, on 11/27/2008, -1/+5I have.
- inactive, on 11/26/2008, -5/+9Yes, but will it blend?
- viv4l4b4m03, on 11/26/2008, -0/+4i don't think this will ever replace concrete. I mean it is one of the most consumed products out there.
- BradHAWK, on 11/27/2008, -0/+3It doesn't need to replace concrete, it only needs to supplement it to both reduce waste (otherwise discarded ash) and reduce energy consumption/pollution (reducing the amount of concrete used and therefore the amount of energy used to make it).
- FreckleEars, on 11/27/2008, -0/+3Buried because concrete is made up of 1 part cement, 2 parts water, 4 parts sand and 8 parts large aggregate. That's 14 to 1 parts that are new material, not recycled. Last time I checked that's about 93%. On top of that, cement itself is partially new material from various sources depending on the type.
- enigmatics, on 11/27/2008, -2/+4It has a green tint to it, that is how it is green... The title is being literal.
Notice the lack of sarcasm tags. - davbmn68, on 11/28/2008, -0/+2This may be the thing that sparks the industry to invest in more scrubbers to get more of this stuff. If it's financially beneficial then the EPA's job gets alot easier. If you have ever been around a concrete plant you would know how "unclean" they are. I say this is a win/win situation. Environmentalists win with less pollution, consumers win with a cheaper alternative to concrete and maybe even cheaper electrical rates if PP's can sell this stuff.
- 4orced4door, on 11/26/2008, -1/+3I think that this is a very interesting idea that shows promise. We produce huge amounts of waste, and something like this that could cut back on the waste is an excellent idea. Unfortunately, the fact that it has to be produced in cells which are baked in an oven is somewhat of a fundamental flaw. Lots of concrete’s uses in construction, for instance pouring cells, pouring driveways, etc., make use of concrete arriving as a liquid and hardening after installation. Cenocell could be used for walls, floors, etc., but I don’t see it every fully replacing concrete as long as it has to be baked.
- RyomaNagare, on 11/27/2008, -0/+2Besides, From what i read in the article this product will come in the form of block to be used in masonry, It will not be produced in a plastic state to be molded on site, one of.
But it will never replace wood, as the architectural advantages of that material, are unrivaled by any of the "fake- the main advantages of concrete. From what they say it could somehow replace prefabricated concrete elements.
But it will never replace wood, as the architectural advantages of that material, are unrivaled by any of the "fake-stone" alternatives. - DarthPoo, on 11/27/2008, -0/+2You know how you have to change your tires? Imagine having to change the road.
- Laiden, on 11/27/2008, -0/+2Digg for appropriate use. I am curious.
- HappyScrappy, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1You mean terrazzo?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrazzo - plnegative1, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1fly ash is used as component of concrete. ....
- HappyScrappy, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1Concrete already replaced cinder/breeze (fly ash) because it's so much stronger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinder_Block
I don't really see it going the other way again. - bpoteat, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1Why? Who cares other than civil engineers who actually do the work - and they already know it.
- hiPpymIck, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1stop Spamming
.. its easy to find bargains
type in a product and Google Shopping (link at top of homepage) will give you a quicklist - with prices - HamstaMan, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1Cenocell. Well I'm sold. How can I deny a product with a cutting edge name like that.
- SadMartigan, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1I still Dugg the article, though. It's good that this info becomes general knowledge, and everyone sees the benefits.
- HamstaMan, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1"And unlike concrete, it emerges from curing ovens in final form and does not require a lengthy period to reach full strength. "
Dunno, seems like there is SOME additional energy input to create it. - qwertydvorak, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1floors and walls are where TONS of concrete are used. drive through any industrial park or do a search on google for "concrete tilt up building." most every building in any given industrial park is a concrete tilt up. the best part of using this new material is not only the fact that it is made from a waste product, but the fact that it is a good insulator. the concrete used in tilt-ups is not a good insulator which means burning fuel to heat and cool the inside.
it could be used in driveway construction by preparing the area and laying them out like giant tiles. if you need a curved driveway the article states that this can be cut fairly easily. just put in expansion joints between the slabs like you would normally put in poured concrete. - MilenkoD, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1Exactly, fly ash i has been a common ingredient in concrete for years. In fact high-fly ash content concrete is far superior to concrete mixes without. Low cracking, self healing ect.
Furthermore, concrete is recyclable, reusable and its ingredient are basic earthen materials. This new stuff isn't as "reusable" as typical concrete. Thus calling it a "green" alternative is hard to swallow. - inactive, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1"Mixed, the ash, and the resulting concrete, can be a source of Radon and direct Gamma radiation depending on the Coal source, and the end use."
Will I turn green and grow big muscles and have an incredible urge to smash things? - laim, on 11/29/2008, -0/+1concrete actually uses a lot of water. When you mix concrete and water, the common misconception is that the water "dries" out of the mix, but it is actually a bonding agent. When it mixes, it reacts, and that water is GONE. It doesn't enter back into the evaporation, rain, river cycle, it's GONE.
- SadMartigan, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1Spoken like a civil engineer who thinks we do work.
- waldo21, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1In order to produce concrete limestone is cooked at high temperatures. The cooking process releases large ammounts of CO2. So not only is it very energy intensive, the production process also releases CO2.
- frepnog, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1"But it will never replace wood, as the architectural advantages of that material, are unrivaled by any of the "fake- the main advantages of concrete. From what they say it could somehow replace prefabricated concrete elements.
But it will never replace wood, as the architectural advantages of that material, are unrivaled by any of the "fake-stone" alternatives."
redundant post is redundant. - hiPpymIck, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1i didnt .. but thanks for the interesting link
i saw it on a UK garden makeover show .. as far as i remember .. it was just a slab of black dyed concrete machine polished to a mirror finish
then set in the ground to create a water feature - a deliberate large irregular (shallow) puddle that would form whever it rained and only disappear when it eventually evaporated - Culyt, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1In the end it will be about the price unless its really some kind of super concrete.
"Estimates suggest the material could be manufactured for an average cost of $50 per cubic yard."
Anyone know how much concrete costs per cubic yard?
Hmm looks like I found thr answer myself: "$70 - $100 per cubic yard depending on supplier."
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_cost_per_cub ...
So I guess it could potentially be cheaper. Assuming they meet that price...
☢ - slapthemonkey, on 11/28/2008, -0/+1This seems economically viable
- beermaker, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1it feels good read an engineering topic on digg once in a while.
- RyomaNagare, on 11/27/2008, -0/+1Sorry Digg crapped on me while typing.
I'll Re-post:
Besides, From what i read in the article this product will come in the form of block to be used in masonry, It will not be produced in a plastic state to be molded on site, one of the most prevalent uses of concrete, and one of its main advantages.
From what they say it could somehow replace prefabricated concrete elements.
But it will never replace wood, as the architectural advantages of that material, are unrivaled by any of the "fake-stone" alternatives.
thats what I meant. - PaladinZ06, on 11/27/2008, -0/+0Actually, FTFA, it says "emerges from curing oven" so that immediately eliminates its use for major things concrete is typically used for - like poured in place anything, tilt-up construction buildings, etc.
- byukid, on 11/26/2008, -3/+3I've never eaten concrete.
- Jerky1312, on 11/28/2008, -1/+1I thought the new meme was "will it shred?"
- hubert2434, on 11/27/2008, -1/+1You already have recycled materials in concrete, they're called aggregates and make up ~50% of the solid concrete mixture. And yes, its usually just sand and crushed rock; what isn't green about that, I have no idea (many manufacturers already throw in recycled garbage instead, at the cost of structural stability and lifespan). Why fix what isn't broke?
- 64705, on 11/27/2008, -1/+1Would you recommend it?
- hiPpymIck, on 11/27/2008, -2/+1a recent article about Google new office in Canada
which has a polished concrete floor reminds me
.. the surface of polished black concrete actually looks surprisingly good - like marble maybe - HamstaMan, on 11/27/2008, -1/+0Maybe?
- cryofan, on 11/27/2008, -3/+1blah blah flying cars blah blah 10 hour work week blah blah instant food blah blah cure for cancer
- Bith8654, on 11/26/2008, -7/+2The title is misleading. Before I read the article I thought they meant the color of the material was actually green, making me think about how weird it would be if everything currently made out of concrete would be green in the future. Then I proceeded to think about what it would be like if we had green roads and if we would still use a green light for GO in traffic lights. Then I read the article and was thoroughly disappointed.
- replaysMike, on 11/26/2008, -16/+11how is it green if it comes from the waste of coal burning plants? With that line of thinking, why don't we fire up more coal plants then?
- humanstruggle, on 11/26/2008, -6/+1we need a true alternative to concrete. some sort of hard pourous surface material that doesnt suffocate all life below. Ive always imagined a road surface made of a hard rubber material..laid out in a tight grid.....with a sand trap below to catch oil discharge from vehicles.
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